State President pitches in on bridge rescue

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has prioritised the search for the missing and the provision of care for families of the deceased following the bridge collapse in the Mekong delta province of Can Tho.

At lunchtime on September 27, President Triet arrived at the site where three girders of the bridge buckled on the morning of September 26.

President Triet went on to call on all branches, all levels, people and donors to provide financial assistance to help the victims and relatives of the dead. “I am ready to donate my blood for the treatment of the injured,” said the President.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Tran Chi Liem, who is also head of the ministry’s steering board for the incident, said that by 10:30hrs on September 27, 42 dead bodies, including five bodies found on the night of September 26, were being housed at medical centres.

All five hospitals in both the Can Tho and Vinh Long provinces are providing treatment to the 117 injured people, including two that remain in critical condition, he added.

To share the sufferings of the victims, the Presidium of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour called on its members nationwide to help the victims. The presidium had decided to give 2 million VND to the families of each deceased person and 500,000 VND to the injured.

The Can Tho bridge is being built across the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong River, in Can Tho city, a heavily travelled route that links the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City. It is the longest bridge to be built in the Mekong delta so far.

Construction of the Can Tho bridge began in 2004 and is slated for completion next year.

(Source: VNA)