Search and rescue for workers trapped under rubble from a scaffold collapse in the central province of Ha Tinh has nearly concluded, according to local authorities.  

The incident occurred at 8 pm on March 25 with around 100 workers working on the 30 metre construction site scaffold at the Taiwanese-invested Formosa steel complex project.

As of 5 pm on March 26, 13 had been declared dead and 28 were injured in the accident.

Eight ambulances and 300 police and soldiers were searching among the rubble. The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) announced a grant worth VND1 million (US$50) on March 26 to each of the injured victims and VND3 million (US$142) to each bereaved family.

The same day, a delegation led by VRCS Deputy General Secretary Dang Minh Chau visited and presented gifts to the injured in Ha Tinh General Hospital.

The provincial VRCS delegation also visited 9 other victims in Ky Anh district general hospital.

Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung requested the establishment of an inter-sector team to investigate the cause of the collapse when visiting the collapse site on March 26.

He also asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and Ha Tinh authorities to inspect labour safety management across other works of the project invested in by the Formosa Hung Nghiep company.

Building site disaster under review

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai yesterday rushed to a building site in HaTinh Province where 14 people were killed and 28 injured when scaffolding collapsed.

The area involved was already under surveillance by Government inspectors.

The incident happened at the site, in the Formosa section of the Vung Ang economic zone. More than 50 workers on the 30-metre steel high scaffolding were hurled to the ground and either trapped or killed

The Ministry of Health initially sent five skilled doctors from Ha Noi-based Viet Duc Hospital to treat victims, then sent another eight from Bach Mai and Viet Duc hospitals.

The incident happened at 8pm on Wednesday night after a corner of the scaffolding was noticed to be leaning.

More than 1,000 rescuers worked throughout the night to save victims. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Ky Anh District where the economic zone is based.

Le Ngoc Chau, director of the province's Department of Health, said he had deployed 300 staff and medical workers to treat the victims in the district hospital and another in Ha Tinh Township.

A total of 15 ambulance carried the injured to hospital. About 100 students doing medical studies at a local college took part in the rescue. Nineteen injured were operated on in hospital and All are reported to be recovering.

Thirteen out of 14 people who were killed were identified and transported to their hometowns in the province and adjacent provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Binh, and northern Hoa Binh Province.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has promised the victims' families a financial assistance of VND150 million (US$7,000) each.

The Ministry of Construction has also gathered a force to investigate the incident.

The construction site is controlled by sub-contractors to the Samsung C&T Viet Nam Company.

The company yesterday sent condolences to the dead victims and supported their families with VND30 million ($1,400) each for transport and funerals.

In a statement released yesterday, Samsung C&T extended its deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

"We will take all necessary measures to ensure that the victims' families are well informed and provided with assistance," it said.

"We will fully co-operate with the authorities to investigate the cause of the accident. Additional details will be forthcoming at the appropriate time," it added.

Formosa construction area is run by Taiwanese investors. Several labour incidents have occurred recently and the area was already being checked by government inspectors when the tragedy occurred.