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Ministers arrive at scene to direct rescue efforts for trapped workers

Two ministers arrived at the scene of the hydropower plant accident in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 17 to supervise efforts to rescue 12 workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel at the construction site of Da Dang – Da Chomo hydropower plant.
Two ministers arrived at the scene of the hydropower plant accident inthe Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 17 to superviseefforts to rescue 12 workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel at theconstruction site of Da Dang – Da Chomo hydropower plant.

Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung and Minister of Industry andTrade Vu Huy Hoang emphasised that the foremost priority should be givento rescuing the workers.

The Construction Minister instructedthat prompt measures be taken as soon as possible to drain water fromthe tunnel to ensure safety for the workers, as the water level isrising.

Minister Vu Huy Hoang said a mining rescue team of theVietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group is on the way to thesite for help.

Rescue operation is urgently underway, withsappers reinforcing the tunnel and digging into the blocking rock andsoil to make holes to bring the victims out.

Earlier, therescuers installed an air conduit to allow oxygen to pass and makecontact with the trapped workers, including one woman.

Through the air conduit, they delivered water, milk, and soup to theworkers, who informed that they are all in stable health condition.

Also on December 17, the Ho Chi Minh City fire-fightingpolice deployed 45 officers and 4 cars of different kinds to the sceneto join the rescue mission.

Work on the Da Dang-Dachomo plantkicked off in 2003. The 475 trillion VND (22.6 billion USD) plant,invested by the Civil Engineering Construction Corp. No. 5 (CIENCO 5),is designed to have a capacity of 22 MW.

The collapsedsite is about 500 metres from the opening of the 700-m-long tunnelrunning though the mountain to bring water to the plant.

Thirty-two workers were in the tunnel when the collapse occurred and 20 of them were able to escape.-VNA
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