Three people died and six others were hospitalised for gas asphyxiation on Saturday morning in Hung My Commune, in the southernmost Ca Mau Province’s Cai Nuoc District, after a biogas tank purportedly leaked near their houses.

Tang's house, where the accident occured.

The 52-year-old Nguyen Van Tang, his wife and a neighbour died from asphyxiation as Tang attempted to fix his family’s biogas pipe, which had been found leaking before.

Director of Cai Nuoc General Hospital Bui Van Duc said other victims remain in critical condition. Local authorities are investigating the case further.

In a biogas system, organic waste is turned into methane gas, which many people in rural areas use for cooking and heating.

VNS