According to authorities in Lao Cai province, on the afternoon of February 22, search teams located four additional missing victims in the sinking of the passenger boat on Thac Ba Lake.

The bodies were discovered after many hours of diving inside the hull and in the surrounding area where the collision occurred between a boat carrying 23 people and a stone barge. Search efforts were carried out throughout the night with the participation of police, military units, local rescue forces and naval special forces.

The four victims newly identified were H.T.H., 56; H.T.T., 60; H.T.T.T., 14; and T.T.H., 48.

Earlier that morning, rescuers had recovered the body of H.D.M., 11. All of the victims resided in Cam Nhan commune.

Later the same afternoon, local authorities confirmed that the final victim had been found by forces from Brigade 126 of the Naval Special Forces. The victim was identified as H.V.T., 42.

The accident occurred at around 7:15pm on February 21 in the area of Lang Can hamlet, Bao Ai commune, Lao Cai province. A passenger boat collided with a stone-carrying vessel, causing the passenger boat to sink. Of the 23 people on board, six went missing and 17 were rescued safely.

Local authorities said the passenger boat was owned by Tran Anh Tuan, 47, residing in Bao Ai commune. The vessel had been purchased but the ownership transfer procedures had not yet been completed. The boat was operated by Trieu Van Noi, 31, from Cam Nhan commune. At the time of the incident, it was traveling from Yen Binh commune to Cam Nhan commune.

The stone barge was owned by Marble Viet Nam Minerals Company, based in Luc Yen commune. It was operated by Nguyen Van Tham, 42, from Cam Nhan commune. When the collision occurred, the vessel was transporting 515 tonnes of stone from Luc Yen commune toward Yen Binh commune.

In response to the particularly serious inland waterway accident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an official dispatch directing urgent measures to address the consequences of the tragedy.

He extended condolences to the families of the victims and instructed the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Construction and the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee to promptly handle the aftermath, visit and support the victims’ families.

The Prime Minister requested the Chairman of the Lao Cai People’s Committee to urgently direct relevant agencies to ensure the best possible medical conditions for the injured, while organizing visits and providing support and encouragement to affected families.

He also ordered Lao Cai authorities to strengthen patrols and inspections, strictly handle violations of inland waterway traffic safety regulations, swiftly investigate and clarify the cause of the accident, and impose strict penalties in accordance with the law on organizations and individuals responsible.

The Ministry of Public Security was tasked with directing Lao Cai provincial police to urgently investigate and verify the cause, with particular attention to possible violations of business conditions in inland waterway transport, especially cargo and passenger operations. The Prime Minister stressed tighter control and strict handling of overloading and exceeding passenger limits, and accountability for vessel owners and transport enterprises when violations occur.

The Ministry of Construction was instructed to direct the Lao Cai Department of Construction and construction departments in other localities to comprehensively review compliance with inland waterway transport business regulations and conditions, and to strictly sanction any violations. Special attention is to be given to the responsibilities of captains, vessel owners and port management units in relation to this accident.

People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities were also directed to tighten management of inland waterway transport businesses in their areas, enhance inspections of compliance with business conditions, and strictly penalize violations, particularly failures to ensure passengers wear life jackets on boats.

The Ministry of Construction was assigned to monitor and urge relevant ministries, sectors and localities to implement the Prime Minister’s dispatch and report any issues beyond their authority.

Duc Hoang - Tran Thuong