Environmental incident compensation in central region mostly completed hinh anh 1Compensation for residents affected by last year’s marine environmental incident in the four central provinces mostly completed (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Compensation for residents affected by last year’s marine environmental incident in the four central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue has been mostly completed.

As of July 7, Ha Tinh distributed 1.35 trillion VND (59.3 million USD) of 1.59 trillion VND (69.9 million USD) approved by the provincial People’s Committee.

Meanwhile, Quang Binh disbursed more than 2.2 trillion VND (96.7 million USD), 98 percent of the total advance payment from the central government.

The Ministry of Finance allocated 970 billion VND (42.6 million USD) for Quang Tri to compensate affected fishermen. The province has disbursed 904 billion VND (39.7 million USD) to 16 communes in four coastal districts of Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, Gio Linh and Vinh Linh.

In Thua Thien-Hue province, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong said the province paid 923.8 billion VND (40.6 million USD) out of more than one trillion VND (43.9 million USD) (91.47 percent) in 28 coastal communes and towns.

The locality aims to complete the compensation before July 15.

The mass fish deaths were first reported on April 6, 2016 when a large number of fish washed ashore in Ha Tinh province. The incident also occurred in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

About 70 tonnes of dead fish were found in the four provinces and Thua Thien-Hue alone reported 35 tonnes of farm-raised fish had died. The pollution affected more than 260,000 people who earn their living from the sea.

In late June 2016, Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company admitted responsibility for the environmental incident, paying 11.5 trillion VND (500 million USD) in compensation.-VNA
VNA