Five people are dead and missing after a bridge scaffold collapsed into the river below in Vinh Long Province on April 12.

The ring indicates where a cable holding the scaffolding on Tra On Bridge broke on April 12, sending eight workers plunging into the river below. Five are dead and missing (Photo: SGGP)

At around 10pm that day, when the Tra On Bridge construction unit was pumping cement, the pipeline clogged and some workers were dispatched to the scaffolding to fix it when a cable broke. The scaffold twisted, dumping eight workers into the river. Three others grabbed cables and clung on.

La Van Dong, 20, of Thanh Hoa Province, told reporters he and Truong Van Tuyen from the same province swam ashore while another worker was saved by some workers and onlookers.

Rescue workers have found the bodies of Trinh Hai Dang and Ngo Van Xuan, both 20.

The three missing include two students and all were aged 20 to 23.

Construction of the 351.4-meter-long Tra On Bridge is part of a project to upgrade Highway 54 and work started in 2007.

Bridge Joint Stock Company No.12, the contractor, built the 120m scaffolding of cajuput wood using eight cables.

Nguyen Hoang Hoc, chairman of the Tra On District People’s Committee, said it was a human error and not caused by technology or quality problems, adding divers are continuing to look for the missing men.