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| The scene of the accident in the southern province of Bình Phước. - VNA/VNS Photo Đậu Tất Thành |
Viet Nam News
BÌNH PHƯỚC — Six people were killed, two serious injured and 15 houses were burned to the ground after an petrol tanker crashed and burst into flames on National Highway 13 in the southern province of Bình Phước early Thursday morning.
All the deceased were in two of the houses. Another five houses also suffered fire damage.
The incident occurred at about 4am. The truck was travelling at high speed from HCM City to Bình Long Town, Bình Phước Province when it crashed into a delivery tricycle carrying ice in the same direction at Minh Hưng market.
The truck lost control and hit a 220kv power pole on the opposite side of the road before it overturned. Tens of thousands of litres of oil were spilled onto nearby houses and burst into flames.
Nine fire trucks and 65 firefighters were sent to the scene. The fire was controlled after three hours.
By Thursday afternoon, provincial authorities had identified the victims of the incident. Of them, four victims were between 15 and 36, and two were six-year-old children.
The two injured victims were the drivers of the truck and the tricycle. Thạch Văn Phong, the truck driver, was seriously injured while Bùi Thanh Vĩnh, the delivery driver, suffered minor injuries. Both are under treatment at Chợ Rẫy Hospital in HCM City.
Dr Trần Văn Khoa of the hospital’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department said the truck driver had suffered burns on 37 per cent of his face, throat, back, arms and legs.
He was under treatment to avoid complications caused by respiratory burns and multiple injuries, Khoa said.
Phong has worked for Sơn Thu Petrol and Gasoline Company as a tanker truck for three years.
Colonel Ngô Thanh Hoà, a representative of the provincial Police Department, said police were examining the scene to investigate the cause of the incident.
The same day, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Văn Lợi and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Trăm directed departments, unions and local authorities to visit and support the families of the victims. — VNS
