Floodwaters from Vietnam’s Da Nhim River swept away the 120-meter Phu Thien suspension bridge in Đức Trọng District, Lâm Đồng Province, during a sudden flash-flood event on November 20, 2025. The collapse occurred in under 30 seconds as the river surged with thick, muddy torrents, snapping the bridge’s cables and tearing the structure free from both banks.

Video footage captured local residents standing behind barricades, many wearing traditional conical hats, as they watched the bridge twist, buckle, and disappear beneath the raging water. Stormy skies and fast-rising currents signaled the force of the event, though authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported.

The Phu Thien bridge connected several small communities, and its loss has left portions of the district isolated, forcing residents to rely on longer, more difficult roads until emergency transport alternatives can be set up. Local officials have begun assessing damage and preparing temporary measures to restore mobility for villages now cut off from schools, markets, and medical access.

Lâm Đồng Province regularly faces seasonal flooding, but residents described this surge as unusually violent, arriving with little warning and overwhelming the riverbanks. The incident has renewed calls for stronger early-warning systems and more resilient rural infrastructure, especially in regions vulnerable to sudden hydrological shifts.

Despite the dramatic destruction, emergency teams remain focused on stabilization efforts, debris clearing, and ensuring that families in isolated areas receive immediate support. Reconstruction plans are expected to follow once the water levels recede and engineers determine safe rebuilding options.