VietNamNet Bridge – Workers from the Dai Minh Salvage and Rescue Company are working hard to prevent about 2,000 litres of oil from spreading in the Saigon River after a hydrofoil burst into flames on January 20.

The company has sent three rescue teams to place buoyancy aids around the ship. However, as the water level in the Saigon River is high, it has not yet been possible to bring the vessel ashore, says Director of the Dai Minh company Hoang Van Loc.

The SG 3837 hydrofoil operated by the Vina Express JSC was carrying 85 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Ba Ria-Vung Tau when the blaze began with the ship not far from the city’s District 7.

After being informed of the accident, Ho Chi Minh City port authorities coordinated with the Border Guard, waterway traffic police and other forces to take immediate action to save the boat.

All the passengers were brought ashore safely. They have been taken on to Ba Ria-Vung Tau by car.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

Many foreigners survive Saigon hydrofoil fire

Nearly 100 passengers, many of them foreigners, managed to escape a burning high-speed boat on the Saigon River on January 20.

A Vinalines hydrofoil en route from HCM City to Vung Tau city burst into flames shortly after leaving Bach Dang Wharf, HCM City’s District 1 at 01.00pm.

Aboard the boat were 83 foreign and Vietnamese passengers. They jumped into the river and were all rescued hours later.

According to Nguyen Xuan Sang, Director of the HCM City Port Authority, no loss of life or serious injury has been reported.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Source: VNA/VOV