On the morning of March 17, functional agencies of Khanh Hoa province are investigating the cause of an accident suspected of being due to gas poisoning that occurred on the cargo ship Truong Nguyen 18.
According to initial information, on the night of March 16, Ca Na Commune Police received a report from Trung Nam Ca Na International Port about the incident on Truong Nguyen 18 ship (with 11 crew members), which was anchored outside the port waiting to load goods, causing many people to be in distress.
Immediately after that, Ca Na Commune Police mobilized 6 officers and soldiers and 4 grassroots security forces to the scene to coordinate rescue, and at the same time contacted Ninh Thuan General Hospital for emergency support.
At the scene, functional forces recorded 4 victims who had been brought to the deck, including 2 deaths and 2 injuries.
The injured victims were quickly transferred to Ninh Thuan General Hospital for emergency treatment.
In addition, there is also 1 victim trapped under the ship's hold (water tank compartment).
Because this area smelled strongly of oil, there was no air, and there was a potential risk of gas poisoning, the initial rescue force could not approach.
After deploying professional measures and specialized support, by the morning of March 17, the body of the trapped victim had been taken out.
The names of the deceased victims include Mr. Tran Duc Tai (born 1981, deputy mechanic), Tran Xuan Dung (born 1971, mechanic) – and a victim named De (born 1979, working as a cook).
The deceased victims were all from Nghe An.
The two remaining people being treated are Mr. Bui Van Quy (born 1978, from Hai Phong, captain) and Mr. Thai Van Thinh (born 2001, from Nghe An, mechanic).
According to initial assessments by functional agencies, the deceased victims showed no signs of external force damage; internal organs remained in their anatomical position, lungs were pink with lotus petals.
The cause of death is suspected to be gas poisoning in an oxygen-deprived environment in the ship's hold.
Currently, the case is being further investigated and clarified.
