Rescuing trapped workers may take days

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai inspects the tunnel and directs rescue work - Photo: VGP

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai called for best rescue workers and modern equipment to speed up the rescue work, adding that all measures must be quick while guaranteeing the safety of victims.

Rescue workers are making every effort during the past two days but challenges have emerged due to torrential rains on Tuesday that give rise to the water and landslides in the tunnel.

Moreover, slope terrain may stretch the rescue effort by three or four days from now, our reporter on the scene said, adding that rescue forces are maintaining close contacts with the victims.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung, and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang are also present at the site.

Medical workers from Ho Chi Minh City also arrived in the site to provide necessary assistance.

Right upon hearing the incident, PM Nguyen Tan Dung dispatched an urgent note requiring all necessary measures to provide emergency relief and rescue 12 workers in the hydropower plant tunnel which collapsed on December 16. 

The victims, including one woman, are all in good health, the rescue forces said, adding that they have managed to clear the site where the workers are being trapped, about 500m from the hatch. A pipeline was installed to provide food and oxygen for them.

List of the trapped workers

1. Pham Viet Nam from Nghe An province

2. Pham Xuan Dang from Vinh Phuc province

3. Dang Thi Hong Ngoc (female) from Nghe An province

4. Pham Viet Lanh from Nghe An province

5. Nguyen An Tuan from Ha Tinh province

6. Nguyen Van Quang from Nghe An province

7. Hoang Anh Van from Nam Dinh province

8. Hoang Dinh Thinh from Nam Dinh province

9. Hoang Dinh Huong from Nam Dinh province

10. Nhu Van Truong from Ha Nam province

11. Nguyen Tien Doan from Nam Dinh province

12. Truong Tuan Viet from Ha Nam province

By Huong Giang