On 16/3 at approximately 7 am, Thu Thuy, a resident of Ha Dong ward, was taking her child to school when they both fell on To Hieu street near the Ha Dong metro. The road surface was slippery due to spilled mud and dirt. Fortunately, the mother and child only sustained minor scrapes, but their clothes were soiled, forcing them to return home.

On the same morning, dozens of other incidents occurred on To Hieu street, similar to Thu Thuy's experience. Viet Trinh, who was driving an automobile, witnessed a young man fall right in front of her wheels. "I was lucky to brake in time, otherwise an accident would have occurred", Trinh recounted.

A student fell on the street on 16/3. Photo: Bui Thuy.

A student fell on the street on 16/3. Photo: Bui Thuy.

Earlier, at 10 pm on 14/3, Nguyen Thuy Chinh and her husband, from Ha Dong ward, also fell while riding their motorcycle on To Hieu street. Despite seeing many people covered in mud, and her husband proactively slowing down, their wheels still skidded. "The fall resulted in my husband being hospitalized with a fractured shin bone and fluid accumulation in his knee, requiring surgery", Chinh shared.

According to residents, over the past few days, numerous dump trucks carrying soil have operated on To Hieu street from 11 pm until morning. Many of these vehicles are not properly covered, causing soil to spill onto the road. When it rains, this creates a thick layer of mud spreading across the road, which is left uncleared.

Numerous incidents of people falling directly in front of automobiles on To Hieu street. Photo: Nguyen Truong.

Numerous incidents of people falling directly in front of automobiles on To Hieu street. Photo: Nguyen Truong.

A similar situation has also occurred on Quang Trung street, which connects to To Hieu. On the morning of 16/3, the section of road from house numbers 227 to 241 saw dozens of people fall due to spilled mud and dirt, including a pregnant woman. The pregnant woman had to leave her vehicle at a roadside store to go to the hospital for examination.

Witnessing numerous falls, some roadside residents have resorted to using tree branches and cardboard boxes to write warning signs.

Vehicles and people falling on Quang Trung street at noon on 16/3. Photo: Xuan Hoa.

Vehicles and people falling on Quang Trung street at noon on 16/3. Photo: Xuan Hoa.

This afternoon, Traffic Police Team number 7 promptly coordinated with relevant authorities to clear the mud and dirt from the road surface. They are also working to identify the vehicles responsible for spilling the soil for appropriate action.

The source of the spilled soil is currently unknown; however, according to many residents, the mud and dirt may originate from a collection point in the Ha Tri street area. Vehicles wishing to access this collection point must travel via To Hieu and Quang Trung streets.

According to Decree 168/2024, vehicle operators who illegally dump waste, soil, sand, stone, materials, or discarded substances onto streets can be fined from 10 to 15 million dong and have 2 points deducted from their driver's license. Offenders are also required to clear the materials and waste and restore the road to its original condition.

Viet An