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On 1/5, a passenger bus fire brought traffic to a standstill for several kilometers on the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway, a crucial transport link connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Mekong Delta provinces. The incident, occurring during a peak holiday period, left drivers stranded for hours. By after 11 a.m., the scene of the bus fire had not yet been cleared as police were still investigating.
The fire began at 8:30 a.m. when a passenger bus with Dong Thap license plates, traveling from the Mekong Delta region towards Ho Chi Minh City, caught fire while passing through Tan Huong commune. The driver noticed smoke from the rear and promptly pulled over to the emergency lane. All 15 passengers on the bus managed to escape unharmed, but the fire completely destroyed the vehicle.
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The route where the fire occurred is a vital transport link connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Mekong Delta provinces, making it very busy, especially during the 30/4 - 1/5 holiday peak.
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The fire caused a traffic jam of over 5 km, with vehicles moving slowly in a long line.
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Police vehicles drove into the emergency lane to direct traffic.
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As traffic remained gridlocked, drivers exited their vehicles to assess the situation. Some gathered on the median strip of the innermost lane, chatting while they waited for the situation to resolve.
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Due to increased traffic volume, police had to restrict vehicles from entering the incident area, redirecting traffic to National Highway 1 to alleviate congestion.
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Direction of the expressway where the fire occurred. *Graphics: Hoang Thanh*.
The Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway, approximately 50 km long, features 4 lanes and 2 emergency lanes, and has been operational since 2010. As a vital route to the Mekong Delta region, it is frequently overloaded and prone to incidents. Most recently, a 5-seater car fire yesterday morning caused a traffic jam of over 10 km. The route is currently being expanded to address these challenges.
Hoang Nam
