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Annual fire drill held at Saigon River Tunnel

Annual fire drill held at Saigon River Tunnel

Monday, October 26, 2020, 13:05 GMT+7
Annual fire drill held at Saigon River Tunnel
Firefighters participate in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Hundreds of responders participated in an annual drill at the Saigon River Tunnel, or Thu Thiem Tunnel, in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday afternoon to practice for future emergencies.

The underwater tunnel, which connects the city’s District 1 and District 2, was closed to traffic for two hours between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on Sunday for the exercise.

Vehicles were banned from entering the tunnel during the two-hour drill.

The hypothetical situation was that a truck carrying tires suddenly caught fire and caused a pile-up involving a 30-seat passenger bus and another truck.

The fire threatened to spread from the burning truck to other vehicles while causing four people to faint after their inhalation of toxic smoke.

As many as 304 people took part in the fire drill, and a total of 32 fire trucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles were mobilized to the scene.

The Saigon River Tunnel lies 27 meters under the Saigon River at the deepest point and is the longest underwater tunnel in Southeast Asia as well as the first in Vietnam.

A firefighting and rescue drill has been held annually at the tunnel since its inauguration in 2011.

Below are some photos of the fire drill held on Sunday.

People run away from burning vehicles in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

People run away from burning vehicles in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

A firefighter has his gas mask covered with firefighting foam in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

A firefighter has his gas mask covered with firefighting foam in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters participate in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters participate in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Fire trucks, ambulances and rescue vehicles are mobilized to a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Fire trucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles are mobilized to a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City, October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Two men acting as victims faint inside a truck in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Two men posing as victims faint on a truck in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters rescue a victim during a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters rescue a victim during a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters rescue a victim during a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters rescue a victim during a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters participate in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters participate in a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

A firefighter signals the end of a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Firefighters signal the end of a fire drill at the Saigon River Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

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