At 4:30 p.m., a 50-ton crane moved the barge, which was stuck at the My Chanh railway bridge over the O Lau River, away from the bridge pier. A tugboat then took it to anchor about 200 meters downstream from the bridge. The barge, approximately 30 meters long and 5 meters wide, was the largest of the three vessels trapped at the railway bridge due to heavy rain and rapidly rising floodwaters.

The largest barge, stuck under the My Chanh railway bridge, was rescued and anchored 200 meters downstream from the bridge on the afternoon of 14/9. *Photo: Dac Thanh*

Earlier, around 2 p.m. on 13/9, three barges used for mineral extraction on the O Lau River were swept downstream from the upper reaches to Nam Hai Lang commune by floodwaters. The vessels were unmanned.

As they drifted to the My Chanh railway bridge on the North-South railway line, the barges collided with the bridge piers and became trapped. One large and one small barge floated on the water, their cabins caught on the railway bridge's structure, while the remaining small one lay tilted next to the large barge.

The Quang Tri Provincial Police Firefighting and Rescue Division mobilized personnel and equipment to coordinate the incident response. By approximately 6 p.m., one barge had its ropes cut and drifted free from its trapped position.

A 50-ton crane lifted the bow of the barge, which was caught on a bridge pier, successfully rescuing it after one day of being stuck. *Photo: Dac Thanh*

Authorities pumped water into the compartments of the two remaining barges to submerge them, and the cabin sections caught on the bridge railing were cut off. However, the stern of the large barge remained caught on a railway bridge pier, while its bow was trapped against a road bridge pier. Strong currents, the smaller barge blocking above, and dense debris below prevented it from drifting.

By the morning of 14/9, floodwaters had receded by 1.5 meters compared to yesterday afternoon. The barge, now positioned below the bridge, was not impacting the bridge's girders. Authorities then pumped out all the water, cut the bow of the barge that was caught on the road bridge pier, and used a crane to move it away.

Currently, one small barge, approximately 20 meters long and nearly 4 meters wide, remains overturned and stuck under a bridge pier, with rescue teams working to salvage it.

Authorities stated that the bridge's structure has not been significantly affected, and its piers remain stable. Since the incident, North-South train services have not been disrupted, except for a temporary halt from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. yesterday to facilitate rescue operations. Trains are currently crossing the bridge at a speed of 30 km/h.

Dac Thanh