Seven of the eight workers who were swept into an underground water pipeline at the Suoi Sap 1 Hydropower Plant in Bac Yen District, Son La Province on Saturday have been confirmed dead after their bodies were found yesterday.
At 8 am December 17, 11 workers were working in the plant’s turbine assembly area when a violent wave of water suddenly flooded the area and swept eight of them into the plant’s underground water pipeline.

The province’s search and rescue force was sent to the scene to look for the workers, but it wasn’t until yesterday evening that rescuers found the bodies of seven of the victims.

The accident occurred after the plant opened its reservoir’s water discharge valve and a short circuit occurred in the valve operating system, causing the valve to not close properly, said Sung A Giao, chairman of the district People’s Committee.

Consequently, the excess water submerged the area where the workers were operating. Only three workers could escape, while the rest fell victim to the violent current, Giao said.

The seventh body was found yesterday evening, and efforts to search for the final victim continued, he added

Four of the dead victims were from Nam Dinh Province, and the others came from Nghe An Province, said the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

The district authorities have given VND1 million (US$47) to each family of the dead victims.

Xuan Thien Co Ltd, which is the investor and also the builder of the plant, have given these families VND300 million ($14,400) and arranged vehicles to take the bodies of the dead victims to their hometowns for burial.

The local police have been working with the plant to clarify the cause of the accident.

Tuoitre