On the afternoon of 6/3, the Dong Nai Provincial Police Traffic Police Department announced that investigations at the scene and statements from involved parties identified the cause of the incident: the captain failed to observe, and the barge lacked sufficient height for the navigation span, leading to a collision with the bridge beam.

Authorities inspect the scene at Ghenh bridge after the accident. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Earlier that same day at noon, the barge Thanh Dat 86, operated by a 26-year-old man from Ninh Binh, traveled from the Hoa An bridge area towards TP HCM. Upon reaching Ghenh bridge, the sealed mast at the front of the barge snagged the underside of the bridge in the central navigation span, causing the vessel to become stuck in the beam.

At the time of the incident, the tide was receding. The collision caused the bridge to shake violently, leading to six motorbikes on the bridge falling into the guardrail. Six people sustained minor injuries, and two required hospitalization.

According to authorities, the collision warped and deformed the longitudinal train beam at span 2, compartment 5 of Ghenh bridge, displacing the railway tracks. Initial checks confirmed that neither the captain nor the crew members had any alcohol in their system.

Barge stuck under the bridge after the accident. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

The railway sector is currently inspecting and assessing the damage, developing a repair plan for swift restoration. The incident forced approximately 2,000 train passengers that day to transfer between Bien Hoa and Di An stations to continue their journey. Repairs to the bridge are expected to take 5–7 days.

Ghenh bridge, which spans the Dong Nai river, was originally built by the French in the early 20th century. In 2016, a barge previously collided with and collapsed the bridge. Subsequently, the government constructed the current new bridge with three spans, featuring both a railway and two lanes for motorbikes.

Phuoc Tuan