Calls for action as dangerous cables get out of hand

Vietnam’s Department of Transport and Public Works is calling for action after a man suffered from severe personal injuries when riding his motorbike down the street.

Le Thanh Cong, 27, had been riding his motorcycle along a street in a Vietnam city when was suddenly thrown to the floor after being hauled back by two dangling power-lines.

As a result, he had suffered from neck injuries and was left with permenant scars running across his neck after being almost strangled by the power-lines.


Hoang Long, a writer, also fell victim to the power-lines when she received painful injuries to her neck and was left with a scar running down her neck.

She said: “I was pulled off my motorbike by a dangling power line. My neck bled and now I have a long scar on my neck, not much fun for a young woman. Interlaced power and telephone lines are hanging from many of the streets in Ha Noi like misshapen spider webs. Hundreds of wires hang from single poles - and even trees.”

The dangerous cables are causing a serious hazard and have actually caused one death after a man became entagled in the cables and was strangled to death.

Despite the growing number of accidents and deaths caused by the power-lines, many of the countries, towns and cities still remain hazardous.

Hundreds of hazardous cables cause confusion
According to witnesses, many of the cables are blown down in strong winds and scattered around roads and footpaths.

Vietnam’s District Electricity Company estimated that there are over 127,000km of twisted wires and cables hanging from the streets.
Le Tung said: "For many years, householders have used ropes to tie the cables so they do not drop on our houses. However, on rainy days, we are still afraid that they will cause an explosion."

As a result of the cables, the number of pulic liability claims
Lawyer Tru Ming Tien, stated that although victims have the right to claim compensation from the owners of the cables, it needs to be proven who is responsible for the accident, and while the cables are in their current state, lawyers may have difficulty in working out what cable belongs to what business.

The Department of Transport and Public Works also stated that it is difficult to figure out who is liable for the accident as 50 per cent of the suppliers cannot be identified.

As a result, the Department of Transport and Public Works is calling for further action to be taken to ensure victims receive fair compensation.

A call for action
Currently, the city and the Ministry of Construction do not have a plan or any guidelines for its underground systems.

As a result, any new cables are being hung in urban areas as the city’s authorities seek funding to ensure all cables are underground.

The Department of Transport and Public Works is now asking agencies with the network wires to ensure they draw up plans of the cables.