A mass grave containing the skeletal remains of at least 17 people has been unearthed in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, by two farmers digging a tunnel to start a pig farm.
Skull unearthed
Nguyen Van Xe and Nguyen Van Doan struck a large rock while digging the tunnel and when they blew it upon December 27, 2014 they found the remains of two people. As they excavated further, they found the remains of three more people.
Xe contacted authorities at the Ba Ngoi Ward People's Committee and he was ordered to continue excavations. As of January 5, the remains of 17 people buried in a seven-square-metre site had been found. The skeletons were transferred to Doc San Cemetery.
Xe did not know exactly how many people had been buried, but the remains of at least four other people have also been found near the main site.
We want the authorities to identify and examine the origins of these remains," Xe said.
Skeletal remains found in Xe's garden
Dao Thi Doan, vice chairwoman of Ba Ngoi Ward People's Committee said, "We haven't found any buried items that might help identify the remains, so for the time being we have to classify them as anonymous. We have reported the matter to city authorities and for the time being will rebury them in Doc San Cemetery."
Pieces of iron found among remains
Dao Van Hoa, chairman of Cam Ranh City People's Committee, said there was no evidence the remains were those of war soldiers.
"The authorities who checked the remains reported they did not find any military items or equipment, so we are making a preliminary identification of civilian," Hoa said, adding that the case had been forwarded to the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Khanh Hoa Province for further investigation.
