Coal mine collapse kills four in northern Vietnam

Four workers were killed in a coal mine collapse on Saturday in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam's coal mining hub.

The accident happened at 7:20 p.m. at a mine operated by Vang Danh Coal JSC, a member of state-owned mining group Vinacomin, in Uong Bi town.

A company rescue team and local competent forces were on the scene quickly, and retrieved the four bodies at 8:10 p.m.

The victims have been named as Luong Hoai Nam, 30, and Nguyen Duc Thao, 34, from Thai Binh province; Truong Van Dai, 33, from Uong Bi town; and Pham Tien Dung, 36, from Quang Ninh’s Dong Trieu town.

According to the Uong Bi People's Committee, a broken water bag in the pit was the reason for the collapse. A police investigation is underway.

Five months ago, a pit collapse also buried two workers at a mine operated by Vang Danh. After spending 12 hours trapped, the two workers were rescued.

Vietnam still largely relies on coal-fired plants for power. Vinacomin said mine accidents killed 17 miners in the first nine months of 2022.