profound sadness

Today a new bridge collapsed in Vinh Long province, VN. Though not yet completed during our visit, the bridge was a source of pride for area residents and many people were more than eager to discuss the virtues of the new bridge. It was to allow automobile travel between HCMC and the Mekong Delta without the use of ferries. It would have been a huge boon to the local economy. To say that they needed that bridge would be a gross understatement. This afternoon the bridge is gone. The scene was described as "total chaos" by local police officials. I can hardly imagine the emotional toll of seeing four years of hard work and hundreds of millions of dollars vanishing into a pile of rubble. At least 94 are confirmed injured and 52 are confirmed dead, though these numbers are expected to increase. Over 250 people were working on the bridge when it collapsed. Despite the fact that I don't live anywhere near Vinh Long province, I now have a connection to the place where the little dude comes from and it makes my profoundly sad to think of the loss experienced by that community today. News reports rarely make me teary. This did.