A 56m section of the 4.78km embankment, which is under construction, suddenly dropped into Can Tho River in Cai Rang District in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho early morning on May 30.
Tran Van De, a 52-year-old local man, said that he heard a loud sound at about 2.30am. He ran out and saw a large section of the embankment dropping into the river. The falling debris broadened nearly 20m inland to sweep away tens of meters of concrete fencing of his house.
The collapse also damaged a 40m road in Hung Thanh Ward in the Cai Rang District and sunk a 5.5 ton boat anchored nearby.
Nguyen Chi Hung, deputy director of the Management Board of Construction Investment Projects in Can Tho City, investor of the embankment project, said that they have built the foot and body parts of the 56m embankment section.
Initial reason attributed to the incident pointed to overload of construction materials, which the contractor piled up in the area causing pressure on the embankment.
Contractor and local authorities have set up fences and installed boards to warn residents of dangers. They have also opened a temporary road for residents to travel.
Dao Anh Dung, deputy chairman of the City People’s Committee will appoint an independent organ to look into the causes of this debacle and propose measures to tackle the issue.
The embankment project along Can Tho River was started in mid 2011 at a cost of VND711 billion (US$34 million). The project is expected to complete by the end of the same year but has extended until now.
Construction of the embankment in Ninh Kieu District side has been unable to take off due to congested site clearance, slow compensation and resettlement works.
The delay has caused needed capital to move up to nearly VND2 trillion ($95.32 million). The investor has proposed to the city authorities to increase funds for the project but this has not been approved.
Execution units have completed 65 percent of the 4.78km embankment in Cai Rang District side where the collapse occurred.
