Nine-year-old N.Đ.B.A. receives treatment at Central Highlands Regional General Hospital. — Photo baodaklak.vn

ĐẮK LẮK — An explosion in the Central Highlands Province of Đắk Lắk caused by homemade fireworks has claimed the lives of two schoolboys and injured three others.

The Krông Na District police on Monday confirmed that a 12-year-old student whose name was given as N.Đ.B. involved in the incident died in hospital.

Earlier, on Sunday afternoon, at the residence of Nguyễn Thị Hoài H. (Đào Tấn Street, Buôn Trấp Township, Krông Na District), there was an explosion that resulted in the death of one student at the scene (an 11-year-old named B.G.T), and three more suffering from serious injuries, including N.Đ.B.

The three were treated at Central Highlands Regional General Hospital, with N.Đ.B. suffering from serious complex trauma to the face, eye burns, and lung contusion.

On Sunday evening, given the severity of his injuries, B.'s family asked to take him home to prepare for funeral services and he reportedly died later that night.

Another student – N.M.T. (12 years old) – saw serious complex trauma to the jaw, shoulders, chest, and legs. He was transferred to HCM City Children's Hospital No 2 for further treatment.

The third victim, N.Đ.B.A, 9, who is B.'s younger brother, while suffering from multiple burns and is receiving special care, has regained consciousness and can talk with people and doctors.

A. said he and a group of friends came to the house to see the making of the fireworks.

There were reportedly two other students that also came, but stood at a distance at the time of the explosion and were not injured.

Police are investigating the incident.

During the holiday season, it is expected that there will be an uptick in young teenagers wanting to try their hand at making fireworks following online instructions, which constitute a serious safety hazard not only for themselves but also for other people.

The same day, the police of a commune in Nghệ An Province said that between December 15 and 24, they caught 19 students, mostly secondary high school pupils, in the act of storing or producing explosive fireworks, and have seized a number of kilograms of finished products and materials. — VNS