VietNamNet Bridge - Within five years, 16 people have died while crossing the Mang Bridge in Nui Thanh District of the central province of Quang Nam. The local people have given the bridge a new name, “Vinh Biet” or Goodbye Forever.

The bridge, built in 1985, spans the Truong Giang River. The 300m bridge was originally a water pipe for agricultural production. Local residents then used it as a bridge and since then it has been called Mang (water trough) Bridge.

As a water pipe, the bridge is only 0.8 meters wide, enough for two pedestrians to avoid each other. Despite the signboards banning motorcycles, local people still drive motorcycles on the bridge.

A few years ago, because there were too many people falling into the river, the local government built handrails, but the situation has not been improved. Local residents say the bridge has too many potholes, which have caused the accidents.

"There are cables, but the gap between the cables is wide, so people still fall into the river," said Mr. Vo Van Tay, 40, who lives near the bridge.

The cables are applied with lubricant for anti-rust and when passers-by fall and hold on the cables, they can still fall into the river.

As the bridge is very narrow, motorcycle drivers have to observe the opposite side before crossing the bridge. In recent years, sand mining in the river has made the flow change, so the river is more dangerous.

Many parts of the bridge are severely degraded.

Locals know that it is dangerous to use the bridge, but they do not want to travel more than 10km more, so every day, thousands of people still cross the bridge.

A local official said the commune does not have accurate figures on the number of accidents on the bridge, but the accidents occur and are reported almost every year. The local government has banned people from using the bridge, but the ban has not deterred residents.

The latest accident occurred on August 19. The victim was a 42-year-old woman who fell into the river and died.

VNE/VNN