Collapse of Can Tho Bridge
Encyclopedia
Can Tho Bridge
Cần Thơ Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Hậu River, the largest distributary of the Mekong River, in the city of Cần Thơ in southern Vietnam. The bridge is 2.75 kilometres long . It has a 6-lane carriageway measuring 23 metres in width, with 4 lanes for traffic and two pedestrian lanes...
was a severe construction accident in southern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The accident occurred at 8 am local time(GMT+7) on the morning of September 26, 2007, when a 90 metre section of an approach ramp, which was over 30 metres above the ground, collapsed. There were 250 engineers and workers working on and under the span at the time it collapsed. As of September 27, the number of casualties remains unclear; one source says that there were 52 people dead and 140 injured. while other sources show that the death toll have reached 59. According to Dr. Trần Chủng, head of the national construction QA/QC authority under the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam, this is the most catastrophic disaster in the history of Vietnam’s construction industry; Ho Nghia Dung, Minister of Transport, agreed.
Dung has apologized for the collapse of the bridge. Meeting with reporters on Saturday, September 29, 2007, he said, "This is the most serious problem and workplace accident in the transport sector. I apologize to all people, victims, and the victims' families."
He further suggests the main responsibility for the collapse lies with the contractor and may consider resigning when the official determination is made by relevant Vietnamese authorities.
Cần Thơ Bridge
Cần Thơ Bridge is a cable-stayed bridgeCable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
under construction over the Hậu (Bassac
Bassac River
The Bassac River is a distributary of the Tonle Sap and Mekong River. The river starts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and flows southerly, crossing the border into Vietnam near Châu Đốc....
) River, the largest distributary
Distributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
of the Mekong River. The 2.75 km, four-lane bridge is located in Bình Minh District, Vĩnh Long Province, opposite Cần Thơ, Tây Nam Bộ, approximately 170 km south of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
. Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Vietnam
-Office:The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the head of the executive branch of the Vietnamese government. The Prime Minister presides over the Vietnamese cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and supervising ministers...
Phan Văn Khải launched its construction on September 25, 2004; it was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2008. The bridge was expected to replace the ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
system that currently runs along National Road 1A and would link Vĩnh Long Province and Cần Thơ city. The estimated construction cost was 4,832 billion vietnamese đồng (approximately 342.6 million U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s). The construction was under the supervision of consultant Nippon Koei-Chodai, which was working with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese contractors
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
, including the Taisei Corporation
Taisei Corporation
is a Japanese corporation which was established in 1873. Its main areas of business are building construction, civil engineering, and real estate development....
, Kajima Construction
Kajima Construction
( is a Japanese construction company. Founded in 1840, the company has its headquarters in Moto-Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. The company is known for its DIB-200 proposal.-Demolition Technology:...
and Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel
, also referred to as , was formed in 1970. Nippon Steel Corporation is the world's 4th largest steel producer by volume.-Early years:Nippon Steel was created by the merger of two giants, Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel...
. Capital
Capital (economics)
In economics, capital, capital goods, or real capital refers to already-produced durable goods used in production of goods or services. The capital goods are not significantly consumed, though they may depreciate in the production process...
for the project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...
which got a official development assistance
Official development assistance
Official development assistance is a term compiled by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to measure aid. The DAC first compiled the term in 1969. It is widely used by academics and journalists as a convenient indicator of...
loan from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation and the Vietnamese government
Politics of Vietnam
Notwithstanding the 1992 Constitution's affirmation of the central role of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, according to the Constitution, is the highest representative body of the people and the only organization with legislative powers. It has a broad mandate to oversee all government...
.
Causes of the incident
- Reuters reported that officials suggested rain might have softened the foundations.
- Another theory suggests that the early removal of the scaffoldingScaffoldingScaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
(while the concrete structure had been filled up for just two days) may have been the cause of the accident. According to Dr. Trần Chủng, head of the national construction QA/QC authority under the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam, the collapse might have been caused by the movement of scaffolding while the concrete had been filled up just for two days, not sufficiently stable. - Another theory is that the sinking of the scaffolding, which had to bear a 6000 metric ton concrete structure might have been the cause of the collapse In reply to the press, the Minister of Transport, Ho Nghia Dung, stated that: "...Preliminary information has shown that there have been signs of settlement of the foundation of the scaffolding. The movement of the scaffolding might have been the cause of the collapse."
- Another source suggested that there have been landslides near the river shore which forced the scaffolding to move.
Long before the collapse, on 12 January, a Japanese construction consultant recommended some specific measures for installing the temporary poles during for the scaffoldings, piling testings for their loading must be carried out in accordance with the international standards and codes. According to this consultant, Hiroshi Kudo, the loading capacity of the scaffoldings as per detailed design proposed by the contractors just meets 15% required loading. He remarked that:
-
- The contractors just multiplied the pile overloading ratio of 1.15 instead of 1.25 in accordance with AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
standard or 1.35 according to Japanese standards; - When calculating wind force to the temporary piles, the contractors just applied a wind force of 0.5 kPa, which was too low; it should have been 2.5 kPa. He therefore required the contractor to redo their temporary pile and scaffoldings detailed engnineering design. Top leaders of the Japanese contractors flew to Vietnam and made bows in a meeting to apologize to the victims and their families. Hayama Kanji, Chairman of the Taisei Corporation said in a meeting with Vietnamese relevant authorities: "I sincerely express my deepest apology to the people and the government of Vietnam". According to NCE.co.uk, the number 0.5 and 2.5 is the coefficient for the wind loading http://www.nce.co.uk/collapsed-can-tho-bridge-engineers-knew-scaffolding-was-inadequate/148226.article.
- The contractors just multiplied the pile overloading ratio of 1.15 instead of 1.25 in accordance with American
Rescue
Immediately following the accident, many workers at the site joined the rescue forces to take the injured out of the debris. Local people, students, and cadres also joined the rescue teams. Thirty Japanese and Filipino volunteers joined in the rescue efforts. In addition, Chợ Rẫy HospitalCho Ray Hospital
Chợ Rẫy Hospital is the largest general hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, founded in 1900 during the French colonial rule as Hôpital Municipal de Cholon...
in Hồ Chí Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
sent two professional rescue teams to the site. All the combined rescue efforts were put under the leadership of Hoàng Trung Hải
Hoang Trung Hai
Hoàng Trung Hải is the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam. Before taking this post, he had been the Minister of Industry of Vietnam. Hoàng Trung Hải graduated from Hanoi University of Technology with a university degree in power systems. He also gained an MBA in Dublin University, Ireland.-References:...
, Vice Premier of the Government and forces from Ministries of National Defence, Public Health, Public Security, volunteer young persons, and students.
Rescue efforts have received international support. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam also sent its resources located in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
to Can Tho. The International SOS alarm centre and clinic in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
sent a first response team of three doctors, a nurse, an interpreter, and an operations manager. Rescue efforts have been carried out with cranes, not by direct entry of rescue personnel because the remaining part of the ramp is likely to collapse.
30 professional rescuers from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the Philippines were dispatched to the accident site to participate rescue team.
According to the BBC Vietnamese, Lưu Thành Đồng, vice director of Can Tho Public Transportation Service (Sở Giao thông Công chánh) in Cần Thơ, rescue efforts are expected to be completed Saturday, September 29. Lưu said "as long there are hope of survivors, the rescue efforts will continue." However, as it's been four days since the accident, the hope of finding more survivors is low.
Casualties
No official number of casualties has been released by Vietnamese relevant authorities so far. As of 24:00 September 27, 2007, the casualties, as made available by the local and international newspapers, were as follows:- According to Vietnam News AgencyVietnam News AgencyVietnam News Agency or Vietnamese News Agency is the official news agency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.-History:*The Vietnamese News Agency was founded in 1945 shortly after the August Revolution...
and CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, 52 people dead and 149 injured. - According to Vietnam Net, 49 corpses have been found and 181 people injured.
- According to Thanh Nien and VnExpress, 37 people dead and 87 injured, not including those not yet recovered from the debris.
- According to Tuổi Trẻ, 52 people dead, 97 injured and several survivors trapped in the debris. However, this newspaper stated 37 dead on 27 September 2007.
- According to BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, 36 dead, nevertheless, ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
quoted a Chinese subcontractor as saying 60 dead. - According to the newspaper Tien Phong, 59 dead, 97 injured and still 70 trapped under the debris.
Other source shows that the death toll has reached 59. It seems that the contractor and the responsible persons have intentionally tried to give irregular number of death toll by continuously decreasing the death toll to the public despite the fact that more and more corpses have been found by the rescue teams.
As of October 1, the number of casualties according to Tien Phong and other local newspapers, the dead toll reached 50, 81 injured, and 3 missing.
According to the statistics by rescue forces, in the afternoon of October 3, 2007, 2 more corpses have been found under the debris, and one more dead in the local hospital, raising the casualties up to 53 dead, 81 injured and one man still missing.
Statistics from the local hospitals
- Military Hospital 121 confirmed 38 deaths.
- Cần Thơ General Hospital confirmed 8 dead.
- Hospital 30-4 confirmed 2 dead.
- Vinh Long Hospital confirmed 3 dead.
Blood donation at the Can Tho General Hospital has received significant contributions from the local young persons.
List of those killed in the accident
Vietnamnet is maintaining a list of workers who were killed in the accident. As of September 28, 2007, this list has 40 victims and it is regularly updated as soon as the official figures are revealed.Memorial
The American Chamber of Commerce in VietnamAmerican Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
AmCham Vietnam is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization. Its objectives are:* Promote the development of trade, commerce, and investment between the United States and Vietnam...
had a "Benefit Performance Memorial" that was held on September 30, 2007. It was open to the public, at the HCMC Military Zone 7 Stadium, and was held to help raise funds for the victims' families. The memorial had singers such as Phuong Thanh
Phuong Thanh
Phương Thanh , is a Vietnamese contemporary singer. She is one of the most renowned singers from Vietnam. Thanh is known for her very diverse styles, especially while performing on stage. She also possesses a unique, unusual singing voice, gaining her recognition throughout the Vietnamese community...
and Siu Black
Siu Black
Siu Black is a prominent Vietnamese popular singer from the Central Highlands. She is a member of the Ba Na ethnic group....
perform to raise money.
Legal actions
On October 2, 2007, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam decided to collect all relating documents in order to define right cause, and liable individuals and organizations to take prosecution against those responsible for the collapse in accordance with Article 229 of the Penal Code of the S.R. Vietnam "Violation of construction regulations leading to the severe consequence".On October 2, 2007, Vinh Long Police signed a prosecution decision (Decision no. 29) against some of the sub-contractors. According to the local police, through the investigations, it shows that the contractors made removal of scaffoldings sooner than detailed engineering design requirements which broke the structure and led to the domino effect
Domino effect
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is best known as a mechanical effect, and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes...
collapse. Some testimonies also indicated that, the subcontractors used bad quality scaffoldings, which had been utilized several times.
See also
- List of bridge failures
- Quebec BridgeQuebec Bridgeright|thumb|Lifting the centre span in place was considered to be a major engineering achievement. Photo caption from [[Popular Mechanics]] Magazine, December 1917...
, collapsed during construction on August 29, 1907, killing 76 workers
External links
- News items informing about the bridge collapse:
- Photographs of the collapsed bridge