Storm Slams Ships into Hai Phong Bridge

Vietnam- Typhoon Conson snapped the anchors on three cargo ships Saturday night, sending them careening into Hai Phong's s Binh Bridge.

The Vinashin Express 01, the Vinashin Orient were joined under the bridge by the Shinsung Accord, a 17,500-ton South Korean vessel that had docked at the Bach Dang Shipbuilding Industry Corporation for repairs.

Traffic on the suspension bridge has been halted for safety reasons after the crash. As of Sunday morning, a half dozen tug boats had succeeded in dislodging two of the giant ships and Vinashin Orient was dislodged early Monday.

The Vinashin Orient and the Shinsung Accord smashed their cargo cranes as they collided with the bridge. And the rear tower of the Vinashin Express 01 destroyed portions of the bridge fence. The structure also bent and snapped several steel cables.

The Binh suspension bridge is supported by girdles made of steel and concrete, the damage to the bridge is estimated at $200,000 USD

Typhoon Conson lost steam after making landfall in Vietnam on Saturday evening. Heavy rains, strong winds have fallen in northern provinces and 5-meter waves pounded the coastline in Nam Dinh province for days.

Conson left at least 39 people dead in the Philippines.

The storm brought wind and rain to the Chinese coastal province of Guangdong, and has halted shipping services and flights from Hainan since Thursday.