According to police in Ben Tre Province, Le Phuc Hau, 29, transported 46 bodies on a truck from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuc Lac Vien Crematorium on two days of August 15 and August 16.
Phuc Lac Vien Crematorium in Ben Tre Province
The crematorium on August 16 reported the incident to local police and the driver was detained.
Speaking to the police, Hau said that on August 15 he transported the first 18 bodies which were collected from different places in Ho Chi Minh City to two crematoriums in Hau Giang and Long An provinces but they were refused due to lack of capacity. He then went on to Phuc Lac Vien Crematorium and the bodies were accepted there.
On August 16 the truck driver continued to transport 28 bodies on two trips from Ho Chi Minh City to the crematorium, which then reported to local police.
After investigations, Ben Tre Police found that 41 out of the 46 bodies were Covid-19 patients. Hau was detained for violating regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control.
The police said that Hau had a travel permit which allowed some vehicles to travel during the ongoing social distancing period in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore he easily passed many checkpoints on the way.
Speaking with Dantri/Dtinews on the afternoon of August 17, chairman of Ben Tre City People's Committee, Huynh Vinh Khanh said that they had locked down the Phuc Lac Vien Crematorium for disinfection and carrying out Covid-19 testing for all staff.
Commenting on the incident, the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command said that they would co-operate with police in Ben Tre in their investigations.
At present, Covid-19 patients who died at hospitals and at locked-down areas in Ho Chi Minh City are being supported with cremation and memorial services by local authorities. Their ashes are given to families by the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command.
The families of patients who died at home in other areas are also receiving financial support for cremation services.
