WATCH CLIP:

On the morning of September 14, according to VietNamNet reporters in Huong Non commune, Tam Nong district, the water level on the Red River has dropped sharply. Military and police forces have begun deploying vehicles to search for missing victims and vehicles that fell into the river.

Present at the scene of the bridge collapse, Colonel Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Chief of the Phu Tho Provincial Military Command, said that immediately after the Red River recedes and the flow rate meets the requirements, the 249th Engineer Brigade, Engineering Corps, will dispatch special vehicles to the location and proceed to install the pontoon bridge.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Phuoc, Deputy Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police, affirmed: The police force is making great efforts to carry out search and rescue work.

At the same time, Mr. Phuoc also directed the forces to create the best conditions for the engineering force to install the pontoon bridge. In particular, the overhead power lines must be moved to ensure the safety of the engineering special vehicles moving down the river.

Previously, on the afternoon of September 13, the Investigation Police Agency of Phu Tho Province announced that it was searching for the whereabouts and bodies of 7 victims and 9 cars and motorbikes involved in the Phong Chau bridge collapse to serve the investigation.

On the same day, Mr. Bui Van Quang, Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee, issued a document requesting the province's functional units to deploy a plan to search for people and salvage vehicles in the collapsed Phong Chau bridge.

To prepare for search and rescue operations, Phu Tho Provincial Police issued a notice prohibiting all water vehicles from passing through Phong Chau Bridge, Red River Km 280+000.

Image recorded by VietNamNet reporter on the morning of September 14:

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Military and police forces deployed at the collapsed Phong Chau bridge area. Photo: Duc Hoang
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Rescue forces have reached the collapsed part of the bridge exposed on the Red River. This location is about 50m from the foot of the bridge on the Tam Nong district side. Photo: Duc Hoang
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Forces of the Phu Tho Provincial Military Command search for missing victims in the Red River. Photo: Duc Hoang
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Colonel Nguyen Huu Phuoc, Deputy Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police, directly inspected and directed the area where the pontoon bridge was installed. Photo: Duc Hoang
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Soldiers of Brigade 249 clear trees to pave the way and prepare to install a pontoon bridge. Photo: Duc Hoang
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The means and equipment for installing the pontoon bridge have been ready since September 10. When conditions are safe enough, the pontoon bridge will be installed. Photo: Duc Hoang
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According to a preliminary report from Phu Tho province, at the time Phong Chau bridge collapsed on September 9, there were 5 cars and 4 motorbikes on the bridge and they fell into the river with a total of more than 10 people. Photo: Duc Hoang
Latest search developments after 5 days of Phong Chau bridge collapse

Latest search developments after 5 days of Phong Chau bridge collapse

Authorities are surveying safety conditions to search for victims of the Phong Chau bridge collapse and install a pontoon bridge across the Red River.
Heartbreaking scene of waiting for news of parents, husband, and grandchildren lost contact in Phong Chau bridge collapse

Heartbreaking scene of waiting for news of parents, husband, and grandchildren lost contact in Phong Chau bridge collapse

Heartbreaking scene of waiting for news of parents, husband, and grandchildren lost contact in Phong Chau bridge collapse
Review images of Phong Chau bridge before it collapsed

Review images of Phong Chau bridge before it collapsed

Phong Chau Bridge connecting Lam Thao and Tam Nong districts (Phu Tho province) collapsed after 29 years of operation, sweeping away pillar T7 and 2 main spans.