Around 7 a.m., a container truck was traveling on the Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway, heading west. Upon reaching My Loi commune, the driver noticed smoke rising from the tractor and pulled over into the outermost lane, lane 2, to investigate.

The tractor-trailer on fire on the expressway. Photo: Provided by a bystander

The fire quickly spread, engulfing the tractor cab in flames and sending a plume of smoke dozens of meters high. The driver attempted to extinguish the fire with an on-board fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful and called the fire department. After about 30 minutes, the fire was extinguished. The fire did not cause any casualties, but the tractor was destroyed.

The incident blocked an entire lane of the expressway, causing significant traffic congestion for several kilometers. Traffic police directed vehicles to exit at the Cai Be interchange and use National Highway 1 to alleviate the congestion.

The 96 km Ho Chi Minh City - My Thuan expressway, specifically the Trung Luong - My Thuan section which opened in 2022, has only 4 lanes and no emergency stopping lane. This leads to frequent congestion, especially during holidays. Expansion to 6 lanes is currently proposed, with construction planned to take place alongside ongoing traffic flow.

Nam An