Boat capsizes, 2 killed in Nghinh Ong Festival tragedy
BAC LIEU ( Vietnam): Two people died when a boat carrying some 80 attendants of the Nghing Ong Festival capsized in Bac Lieu province on Thursday morning, Vietnam News Agency ( VNA) reported.
The dead, both 17, were identified as Le Ngoc Han from Ganh Hao town and Tran Tu Tran from Dong Hai district.
By 2pm of the same day, 39 people were rescued from the sea, and 17 hospitalised for emergency treatment.
The boat capsized shortly after it departed from the Ganh Hao estuary. The accident spot is some 2km from the estuary.
Initial investigation revealed that the boat belonged to fishermen.
It capsized due to big wave and winds and because it was overloaded, said Ngo Thanh That, Deputy Director of the Bac Lieu Police.
Following the accident, the prime minister issued a dispatch requesting the Bac Lieu People’s Committee, in conjunction with the National Committee for Search and Rescue to work with the provincial People’s Committee and relevant agencies to promptly carry out search and rescue work.
The provincial People’s Committee was asked to visit the rescued people and families of the deceased and directed competent agencies to clear up the accident’s reason.
The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial People’s Committee instruct competent agencies to tighten examination and management over inland water and sea vessels in order to ensure safety and avoid similar accidents, the dispatch noted.
The Nghing Ong Festival was held on April 4 until 6 this year at the On Nam Hai Shrine in Bac Lieu province’s Dong Hai district.
It is a traditional festival of the coastal province’s fishing community, who prays for a safe and prosperous fishing season.