Six miners lost their lives after suffocating in a coal pit in the northern province of Quang Ninh, the largest coal mining area of Vietnam.

The accident is said to have occurred at around midnight on January 15 at the Dong Vong Coal Mine Company in Dong Trieu district.

The victims have been named as Bui Xuan Tiep, Pham Van Luc, Bui Quang Huy, Le Anh Phong, Nguyen Ba Tuan and Pham Van Vuong.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Doc has urged the departments of health and labour, war invalids and social affairs to work with the coal sector to find the cause of the accident.

They were also asked to meet the bereaved families and do all they can to financially support them.-VNA