A rice field in the central province of Hà Tĩnh. Four people died yesterday on a rice field in the province due to electric shock. — Photo trangtraiviet.vn |
HÀ TĨNH — Four workers died from a massive electrical shock on Friday afternoon in the central province of Hà Tĩnh while trying to erect a telecommunications pylon in a rice field.
Witnesses at the scene in Cẩm Hưng Commune in the province’s Cẩm Xuyên District said the incident occurred while the workers were trying to raise the pylon under a power line.
Bùi Quang Quân, head of the electricity branch in Cẩm Xuyên District, said safety rules required the telco office to ask for the power be cut off before allowing anyone to start work near heavy voltage cables, but that had not happened.
Nguyễn Đình Dũng, chairman of Cẩm Hưng Commune, said the four deceased were residents of the commune, and two of them were siblings.
Police are investigating the case.
Compliance with labour safety rules is rare in Việt Nam, particularly when developing sectors hire farmers to do construction works in rural areas. — VNS