ĐẮK LẮK — A bridge on the Ea Krông Bông River in the central highlands province of Đắk Lắk has partly collapsed due to heavy flooding, isolating thousands of households in Cư Pui Commune.

Nguyễn Văn Tâm, chairman of Cư Pui Commune’s People’s Committee said that one side of the Khóa Bridge sustained serious damage from tropical storm Damrey, the 12th typhoon to hit the country this year, which wreaked havoc in the south-central region earlier this month.

Prolonged heavy downpours and flooding over the past several days have swept away one side of the bridge. As many as 1,200 households in six villages in Cư Pui Commune have been isolated since November 24.

The bridge was the main road that connected Ea Uôl, Ea Lang, Cư Rang, Cư Tê, Ea Bar, and Ea Rớt villages to central Cư Pui Commune.

The committee has banned residents from going near the bridge and school students have been told to stay at home to ensure their safety.

Despite the damage to the bridge, some residents have been caught trying to climb through the collapsed section to cross the bridge.

Y’ Brơi Byă, a resident of Cư Pui Commune, said that due to travel needs of residents between the two sides of the river, authorities should speed up repairs on the bridge to ensure traffic flow resumes and the impact on residents’ lives is reduced.

The Khóa Bridge was built in 2005, connecting six villages of Cư Pui Commune and the central area of the commune. The bridge has fallen into disrepair after long-term use. — VNS