Hai Van Tunnel Operation & Management Enterprise has just promptly handled a container truck fire approaching the southern tunnel entrance, ensuring smooth safety for people and vehicles traveling through the tunnel.

Saving one more vehicle fire case is preventing another potential accident.

Specifically, at 6:02 p.m. on September 12, 2023, through the surveillance camera system, the Enterprise noticed a container truck with license plate 43C-20974 moving on the road leading to Hai Van Tunnel in the south-north direction with signs of unusual smoke coming from the back of the car. Immediately, the Firefighting and Rescue force was dispatched to the scene to check. After giving the command to stop, it was discovered that the vehicle had a fire problem at the rear of the vehicle.

The Hai Van tunnel’s firefighting and rescue force urgently reported to the Operations Center deployed a firefighting team, and mobilized fire trucks to be on duty at the southern tunnel entrance to intervene and handle the situation quickly while dividing and regulating traffic through the tunnel. By 6:07 p.m., the fire was completely extinguished, ensuring the safety of people, vehicles, goods, and construction structures.

The firefighting and rescue force at Hai Van tunnel promptly extinguished the fire on the container truck that encountered the problem

In a quick interview at the scene, Mr Tran Quang – the container truck driver who encountered the above incident, expressed his appreciation to the Hai Van tunnel operator for promptly detecting, handling, and supporting the vehicle. “I, like many drivers, choose to go through the road tunnel because the most important thing is that we are guaranteed safety,” Mr. Quang added.

Real value through numbers

According to the report of Hai Van Tunnel Operation Management Enterprise, Hai Van tunnel has recently served about 35 million vehicles passing through the tunnel safely and smoothly. The average vehicle flow through the tunnel has reached 9,000 vehicles/day and night. Realizing the convenience and safety of moving through the tunnel, the number of vehicles circulating on the pass has now decreased to only 12%.

In particular, during the tunnel operation, the Cultural Management unit promptly handled 20 fires and explosions in the tunnel and 14 outside the tunnel, 91 traffic accidents in the tunnel and 66 outside the tunnel, minimizing damage to people and property.

To effectively meet the fire prevention and rescue work, the HLVH unit always strictly follows measures, including continuously monitoring the traffic situation in the tunnel through the iron monitoring camera system and sensors; promptly detect incidents and accidents and immediately notify the authorities; Activate the traffic warning and guidance system so that traffic participants can avoid the incident area and circulate safely; Mobilize the unit’s forces to participate in troubleshooting support, clearing traffic and helping people in distress.

Mr. Truong Huu Nghia – Deputy Director of the Enterprise, shared that ensuring fire and explosion safety for vehicles passing through the tunnel is always an issue in managing and operating transportation infrastructure projects. The subject is our top priority. Fire and explosion incidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Therefore, the tunnel operating force always focuses on coordinating with functional agencies and local authorities to handle incidents and accidents on the tunnel, staying highly focused 24/7 in a ready-to-respond attitude. Respond promptly to prevent prolonged fire and explosion incidents from causing severe consequences.

“We also periodically organize training courses to enhance knowledge and professional fire prevention and rescue skills for the Enterprise’s forces, at the same time, strengthen propaganda work for traffic participants to understand and strictly comply with regulations when traveling through Hai Van tunnel. The goal is to continuously improve the quality of management and operation of Hai Van tunnel for safety and smooth traffic through the tunnel,” said a representative of the Enterprise.

Ensuring fire and explosion safety for vehicles traveling through the Hai Van tunnel is always the top priority of the operating unit.

Besides enhancing trade, the Hai Van tunnel also helps traffic participants shorten the North-South journey, saving travel time from 45 minutes on the pass to only 6 minutes, reducing fuel consumption and vehicle damage. More importantly, it is to thoroughly resolve dangerous traffic “black spots” prone to congestion on the National Highway 1A section through Hai Van Pass, making an essential contribution to the socio-economic development of the locality and the area.

BY TUAN KHANG