Floodwaters wash away temporary bridge, isolate over 400 households in Vietnam’s Nghe An

Luong Van Bay, chairman of the commune’s administration, said floodwaters from upstream Laos surged into the Nam Non River, destroying two spans of the temporary bridge built earlier this year.

The bridge had been erected with more than VND2 billion (US$76,100) in provincial funding to replace a suspension bridge lost during storm Wipha, the third storm to hit Vietnam in 2025.

The collapse of the temporary bridge has left residents of several border villages like Yen Hoa, Nhot Lot, and Pieng Pen isolated.

To reach the commune center, villagers must now take a long detour via National Highway 16, adding significant travel time.

Local military, border guards, and police have set up checkpoints and warning signs at the bridge site, prohibiting crossings to ensure safety.

In the meantime, residents and students had no choice but to rely on boats to reach the commune center, a risky option during the rainy season.

In Muong Tip, another border commune of Nghe An, heavy downpours have caused a landslide that blocked a road from the commune center to Xop Tip village, according to the commune’s Party chief Vi Thi Quyen.

Authorities have warned drivers to proceed cautiously and are mobilizing machinery to clear debris and restore traffic, Quyen said.

The provincial civil defense steering committee has ordered wards and communes to prepare for flash floods, landslides, and severe weather.

Measures include stationing guards at flooded roads; restricting unsafe crossings; preparing sufficient personnel and equipment to respond to incidents and keep major roads open.

Nghe An is among the central Vietnamese provinces frequently and severely affected by tropical storms, flooding, and other natural disasters.