Three men who caused a massive blackout in 22 southern provinces and cities on Wednesday are expected to be prosecuted, according to southern Binh Duong Province's Police.

Power outages throughout Southern Vietnam

Power cut in Southern Vietnam caused by a crane

The suspects are a truck driver, his assistant and a farmer working at a nursery for young dau trees (Dipterocarpus alatus) trees in the province.

The blackout occurred when the truck driver was moving a tall tree from the garden. The tree accidentally bumped into a 500kV transmission line belonging to the national power grid.

Police said the incident caused severe economic damage and negatively affected national security.

Police said that while the suspects were on low incomes and it was hard for them to pay damages, it was still necessary to prosecute them.

"Under regulations, the nursery garden must be seven metres far from the 500kV transmission line," said Trinh Dinh Chinh, deputy director of the Mien Dong Power Transmission Department.

In reality, it was about 14 metres away from the line, he said, but the tree being moved was about 17 metres in length.

VNA