Bus explosion in Laos kills eight Vietnamese

Hanoi (VNA) – Eight people were killed and three others injured when their bus en route to the central province of Nghe An from Laos exploded on the morning of June 2.

Immediately after being informed of the accident, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is Chairman of the National Committee on Traffic Safety, asked the Foreign Ministry to direct the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to coordinate with Lao agencies to address the consequences of the accident, and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased to their hometowns for burial.

He requested the Transport Ministry to steer the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam to collaborate with transport departments and other offices of central Nghe An and Quang Binh provinces, to inspect the implementation of regulations and laws related to transportation business between Vietnam and Laos.

He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and injured.

In reply to reporters’ queries related to the incident, at a regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry on the day, the ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh immediately directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane and the Consulate General in Savannakhet to send officials to the scene and coordinate with the Quang Binh Border Guard Command to verify the case.

Currently, representatives from the Consulate General have reached the scene and are working closely with Lao agencies to help relatives of the deceased bring back their bodies to their hometowns.

The accident occurred at around 4 a.m. in Bualapha district of Laos’ Khammouane province, about 15 kilometers from the Cha Lo border gate of Quang Binh.

The deceased are from Nghe An and Nam Dinh provinces. The three injured people are being treated at Nghe An’s Hospital 115.

An investigation of the accident is underway.-VNA