At 8:00 pm on December 16, rescue forces made contact with trapped workers in the Da Dang-Dachomo hydropower plant tunnel collapse in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The 12 victims, including one woman, are all in good health, the rescue forces said, adding that they have managed to clear the site where the workers are being trapped, about 500m from the hatch, and will install a pipeline to provide oxygen for them.

Colonel Hoang Cong Thao from the provincial police said rescue work will be continued overnight until the victims are brought to the hatch.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung dispatched an urgent note requiring all necessary measures to rescue the trapped workers.

Right after the incident, the province has mobilised more than 100 firefighters, rescue workers, traffic police and medical staff to join the rescue mission.

Work on the Da Dang-Dachomo project in Lac Duong district kicked off in 2003. The 475 trillion VND (22.6 billion USD) plant, invested by the Civil Engineering Construction Corp. No. 5 (CIENCO 5), is designed to have a capacity of 22 MW.

The latest pictures taken this morning at the scene:

VNS/Zing