SƠN LA — A suspension bridge was damaged after being hit by a truck, seriously affecting the lives of residents in Chiềng Khoong Commune in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La.

The Hải Sơn suspension bridge, spanning the Mã River, is the main route for thousands of residents in Chiềng Khoong Commune.

This is the second time the bridge has been put out of order.

Phạm Ngọc Thạch, a resident in Hoàng Mã Village, said that in 1997, a lorry hit the bridge and five people were injured.

The Hải Sơn suspension bridge was completed in 1997 by the Sông Mã District authorities.

The bridge last underwent periodic maintenance in December last year.

However, on August 11 this year, a truck travelling to Sơn La City hit one of the cables and caused the bridge to tilt.

At present, residents in Chiềng Khoong Commune are harvesting thousands of tonnes of longans. Now that the bridge is out of order, farmers are worrying about how to transport the fruit.

Đặng Văn Thửa, head of Hải Sơn 1 Village, said that if the bridge was repaired, transporting longan would be easier and the prices would be more stable.

Moreover, the new school year is approaching. The bridge was an important route for students and teachers.

Now, thousands of residents must find alternative routes to school and work.

Cầm Thị Ngọc Yến, deputy chairwoman of the Sông Mã District People’s Committee, said that the committee had assigned inspectors to check the state of the bridge and develop solutions.

The committee also set up warning signs at the two ends of the bridge, and signs redirecting residents to other routes.

The committee has sent reports to the Sơn La Province People’s Committee, the provincial Department of Construction and the provincial Department of Transport about the incident.

Detailed plans to repair the bridge will be drawn up once relevant organisations complete their inspections. — VNS