Injured being treated at Khánh Hòa Province General Hospital. — VNA/VNS Photo

KHÁNH HÒA – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked relevant ministries and agencies to promptly deal with the aftermath of the serious traffic accident in the south-central province of Khánh Hòa.

Four Chinese tourists were killed and nine others were injured after a coach overturned on Khánh Lê Pass at 15:20 on Tuesday, according to the Khánh Hòa Provincial People’s Committee.

Hồ Ngọc Hưng, a 58-year-old man from HCM City, was driving the vehicle carrying 20 Chinese tourists and two Vietnamese tour guides from Đà Lạt City in the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng to Nha Trang City in Khánh Hòa Province when he lost control of the coach which then overturned.

He tested negative for drugs without alcohol in his breath. He was reported not to run out of speed, according to the surveillance camera record before the accident happened.

Nguyễn Văn Hoàng from Nha Trang, a tour guide on the coach said that the coach accelerated rapidly while descending the mountain. Immediately, he informed the passengers to fasten their seat belts and cover their heads. The bus overturned right after Hoàng finished his sentence, and he lost consciousness.

Three people died at the scene of the incident and one more passed away on the way to the hospital.

Right after receiving information about the accident, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, extended condolences to the families of the deceased and sympathies to the injured.

In the official dispatch, the Chairperson of the Khánh Hòa provincial People’s Committee who is also Chairperson of the provincial Committee for Traffic Safety was asked to direct relevant agencies and units to mobilise health workers, medicines and equipment to save the injured people; conduct procedures related to the deceased; and visit the families of the victims.

Khánh Hòa’s authorities were also requested to coordinate closely with relevant units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in carrying out the next steps in line with legal regulations.

Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, Khuất Việt Hùng, along with Xu Zhou - Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in HCM City, also visited the victims at the Khánh Hoà General Hospital on Wednesday.

At the hospital, Hùng showed concern and inquired about the victims' health conditions, encouraging them to stabilize their emotions for a speedy recovery. The Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee stated that the Vietnamese Government will provide the best conditions to care for the patients' health and support their return to their homeland.

Through the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in HCM City, Hùng conveyed condolences to the families of the Chinese victims and affirmed that an investigation will be conducted to address the consequences of the traffic accident in accordance with Vietnamese law.

Hùng also mentioned that Vietnamese authorities will cooperate with the Chinese government to facilitate the necessary procedures for receiving and repatriating the remains of the deceased as swiftly as possible, respecting Chinese traditions.

On the same morning, at Khánh Hòa General Hospital, the provincial police conducted examinations of the bodies of the four deceased victims and completed the handover procedures to the Chinese side in compliance with the law.

The four Chinese victims who died in the accident were Wang Wen Yuan (male, born in 1959), Yin Chun Xia (female, born in 1963), Li YuLing (female, born in 1953), and Si Shu Zhen (female, born in 1962).

As of 6:30 AM on July 19, Khánh Hòa General Hospital has received 18 emergency cases from the accident.

Three individuals with minor injuries have been discharged, while the remaining 15 cases are still under active care by doctors and medical staff.

The victims suffered multiple injuries, including spinal injuries, fractures, chest injuries, head injuries, and facial injuries. Currently, all the patients are conscious, and their health conditions are stable. — VNS