Towboat owner, driver in Ghenh bridge collapse prosecuted
The Dong Nai province Supreme People’s Procuracy on March 30 approved a decision to start criminal proceedings against two men involved in the recent collapse of Ghenh Bridge across Dong Nai River.
Dong Nai (VNA) – The Dong Nai province Supreme People’s Procuracy on March 30 approved a decision to start cr🍷iminal proceedings against two men involved in the recent collapse of Ghenh Bridge across Dong Nai River.
The detainees are 62-year-old Phan The Thuong from Ho Chi Minh City, owner of the towboat which caused the March 20 accident, and 30-year-old Tran Van Giang, residing in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, who was at the towboat’s wheel when it crashed into the bridge.
An order was also issued to take the two men into custody for four months to serve the investigation into “violations of regulations on navigation in waterways” stipulated in Article 212 of the Criminal Code.
According to initial investigation, Thuong asked Giang who has no boat-pilot’s licence to steer the towboat coded SG-3745, which was towing a barge with a plate number of SG-5984 carrying 800 tonnes of sand from the western region to Dong Nai.
However, the towboat’s engine stopped working when it came near the Ghenh Bridge. Due to a strong current, Giang could not steer the towboat, resulting in the barge hitting the bridge. Two spans of the bridge collapsed after the crash.
Giang and Nguyen Van Le, another person aboard, jumped into the river and were rescued by nearby fishing boats. They fled to Soc Trang afterwards.
The Ghenh bridge was built by the French in the 1900s during the colonial period and has been used for both railway and land transportation.
As the bridge is on the North-South railway route, rail services have been interrupted. Trains on the route must now stop at Bien Hoa Station.
To support passengers travelling between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, HCM City’s transport sector has increased bus services between Sai Gon Station to Bien Hoa.-VNA
The Ministry of Transport on March 20 set up a special working group led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong to deal with the collapse of Ghenh bridge, a key bridge on the North-South railway line.
Police in the southern province of Dong Nai on March 21 detained Phan The Thuong, owner of the towboat with registered number plate of SG 3745, which caused the collapse of Ghenh bridge.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed in principle the allocation of 298.5 billion VND (nearly 13 million USD) from the 2016 State budget for the urgent repair of the Ghenh bridge.
Works on the repair of the Ghenh bridge across the Dong Nai River in the southern province of Dong Nai will begin on April 1 and is expected to be completed on July 15.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
The site of the bridge collapse (Source: VNA)
