14 killed in scaffold collapse

At least 14 workers died and dozens injured when a huge scaffold at Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh Province collapsed last night (March 25).

Collapsed scaffold

The accident happened at 8.25pm when the workers were building the scaffold, which is 20 metres wide and 30 metres high. The workers are Vietnamese hired to work on a seaport breakwater project. The workers were subcontractors for a branch of Samsung group.

It was unclear how many workers were on the scaffold when it collapsed. However, some workers said about 100 people were at the site, with more than 40 on the scaffold itself.

The construction scene

Hundreds of soldiers, police, rescue force and doctors were mobilised to search and give first aid to survivors trapped in the wreckage. The injured were transferred to Ha Tinh General Hospital and Ky Anh General Hospital.

By morning, it was confirmed 14 workers had died in the collapse.

Doctors at Ha Tinh General Hospital said they had received 30 workers, most of them in critical condition and suffering multiple trauma.

 Rescuers search for survivors

Nguyen Tuan, vice director of provincial Department of Health, said more than 300 doctors and 150 interns from local medical colleges were sent to help the injured workers. A group of doctors from Hanoi's Vietnam-Germany Hospital has also arrived this morning to help treat injured workers.

Workers transferred to hospital 

Workers said they encountered problems while building the scaffold, but were ordered to continue because a concrete pour was scheduled for the next day.

 The scaffold before it collapsed

Construction Minister Trinh Dinh Dung is on the way to the construction zone to inspect the accident.

Police are still identifying the dead. An investigation into the cause of the collapse is underway.