Three Foreigners Die in Vietnam Fireworks Explosion

Published : October 10, 2010 :: 16:10:51 [ 2,561 views ]

Two German nationals and a Singaporean have been reported dead following an accidental fireworks explosion in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi this week.

Hanoi, the 10^th of October 2010: The accident occurred at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium, one of 29 sites in the capital where fireworks are planned for the city’s 1000^th birthday anniversary bash on Sunday.

Authorities said the foreign victims included a 38-year-old Singaporean woman and two German nationals believed to be 55 and 56-years-of-age. Two Vietnamese nationals and another German were injured in the explosion and are now believed to be receiving treatment at hospitals in the capital.

According to the national press the Singaporean victim is the wife of a Singapore-based company ‘Glorious group’, while the German nationals are thought to be part of a 15-man contingent of German contractors working for the company.

The explosion happened when two containers of fireworks, planned for Sundays Hanoi 1000^th birthday celebrations, exploded at the My Dinh Stadium in the capital. Authorities put the accident down to “carelessness during transport” by the local International Investment Trade and Service Company, known as Interserco.

Shortly after the accident police sealed off the site. Reports by several online Vietnamese newspapers about the blast were abruptly removed after being posted, while some photographers working at the scene were detained and had their pictures confiscated by police. The communist government closely monitors the country’s news media.

The event organiser had imported three containers weighing approximately 40 tons for the celebrations, which is will apparently remain unaffected by the tragic incident. The fireworks will not be cancelled according to event organisers with locally produced fireworks purchased to cover the shortage left by the blast.

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