The famous Hai Van Tunnel in central Vietnam is at high risk for fires and explosions due to increasing violations by passing vehicles, says the company managing the tunnel.

The tunnel’s firefighting and prevention systems are not adequate to meet the threats, said Nguyen Dinh Bach, director of Hamadeco Company, which manages the tunnel.

Since its opening in June, 2005, the tunnel connecting the central cities of Da Nang and Hue has seen 17,270 vehicles breaching laws – or some 3,450 a year, mainly driving under or over the regulated speed, Bach said.

Some even pull over in the tunnel for their passengers to have closer look at the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia (6.28 kilometers) or turn around right in the middle of the tunnel.

Worse still, they have so far recorded 27 vehicles which have caught fire while running, Bach said, adding that it this poses threats of fires and explosions in succession due to the tunnel’s structure.

“Hai Van Tunnel is basically small and close; in case of fires and explosions, it’ll be very hard to conduct rescue and firefighting missions,” said Hamadeco Vice Director Cao Ba Giang.

In the meantime, the tunnel’s fire fight and prevention system is still awaiting approval by the Ministry of Transport and Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department for corrections to its structure, including replacing sliding exit doors with ones that push in and out, upgrading equipment with adding more firefighting trucks.

(Source: ThanhNien)