Each family of dead victims in the blast that rocked a firework factory in Thanh Ba district, northern Phu Tho province on October 12, will be given 103 million VND (490 USD) in aid to help them overcome the consequences of the accident.

According to Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Duc Lam, Head of the General Department of Defence Industry under the Ministry of Defence, the aid comes from the Defence Ministry, the Defence Minister, the General Departments of Politics and Defence Industry, the factory and the trade union organisation of the defence industry. The provincial authorities of Phu Tho also contributed part of the money.

Injured victims are given 33 million VND by the ministry and Phu Tho province.

The owners of damaged homes receive 10 million VND in support from the province.

According to the latest report released on October 13, the number of dead victims in the explosion at the Z121 military factory - run by the General Department – climbed to 24 while the number of injured people was 97.

The explosion also damaged hundreds of houses in surrounding areas.

Initial investigation said a technical fault led to the explosion. Fire then spread to the production establishment where an estimated 17,000 boxes of fireworks were stored.

Doctors from Military Hospital 103 and the National Institute of Burns in Hanoi were sent to Phu Tho to help local doctors treat burned patients. Seriously injured people were transported to central hospitals in Hanoi for treatment.

Local authorities and relevant sectors are striving to help the families of victims and local people overcome the consequences of the explosion and stabilise their lives as well as to resume production in the factory, which is the only one making fireworks in the country.-VNA