Around 2 p.m., a pickup truck carrying aid, including clothing and essential supplies, was traveling from Muong Xen commune to My Ly commune, in the former Ky Son district. While descending a steep curve on National Highway 16, near Huoi Tu commune, the truck lost its brakes and rolled backward down the hill.
Two other vehicles, also carrying aid to My Ly and Nhon Mai communes, were following closely behind. Unable to react in time, they were struck by the runaway pickup, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision.
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A truck with a broken window after the collision, Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Hung Le |
A truck with a broken window after the collision, Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Hung Le
Two people among the three vehicles sustained minor injuries. The vehicles suffered significant damage to their front and rear ends. National Highway 16 was blocked for over an hour, reopening around 5 p.m.
National Highway 16 is a vital route connecting four provinces: Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An. It's also the only road leading to many mountainous communes in Nghe An. Currently, cars and motorbikes can only travel from Muong Xen commune, the center of Ky Son district, to the center of My Ly commune. The route from there to Nhon Mai commune and connecting to National Highway 48 remains impassable due to hundreds of landslides.
The accident scene, Tuesday afternoon. Video: Hung Le
Heavy rains have pounded Nghe An since July 22, due to the impact of Typhoon Wipha. Floodwaters from upstream, combined with discharged water from hydroelectric plants, have caused widespread flooding, flash floods, and landslides in dozens of communes in former mountainous districts such as Ky Son, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Que Phong, and Anh Son.
As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities reported 4 deaths from landslides and flooding. Seven mountain communes, with over 5,000 households and over 24,000 residents, remain isolated, including the border commune of Nhon Mai in the former Tuong Duong district, which is completely cut off. Initial economic damage is estimated at around 3,450 billion VND.
In recent days, hundreds of aid convoys have reached flood-affected communes in western Nghe An, delivering food, essential supplies, household items, and cash donations. According to provincial statistics, the Nghe An Fatherland Front Committee has received over 50 billion VND from agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals, in both cash and goods. The provincial Red Cross has also received 2.3 billion VND.
Duc Hung
The Hope Foundation - VnExpress newspaper has launched the "Joining hands for Nghe An" campaign to support the reconstruction of schools damaged by landslides and flash floods, helping students and teachers regain stability before the new school year. Readers can contribute to the campaign here.
