At about 7:15 pm on February 21, on Thac Ba Lake in Lang Can village, Bao Ai commune, Lao Cai province, a waterway traffic accident occurred, leaving 6 people missing.
At that time, a passenger ship with license plate YB0876H carrying 23 people (including the driver) was moving from Yen Binh commune to Cam Nhan commune.
When arriving at the above location, it collided with ship number YB0919 (owned by Marble Vietnam Mineral Company, headquartered in hamlet 13, Luc Yen commune, Lao Cai province), driven by Mr. Nguyen Van Tham (born 1984, in hamlet 4, Cam Nhan commune).
According to Nguyen Van Tham's presentation, ship YB0919 is registered, and for inspection, he himself has a ship driving license. The ship carrying 515 tons of stone moved from Luc Yen commune to Yen Binh commune.
Meanwhile, ship YB0876H is owned by Mr. Tran Anh Tuan (born 1979, residing in Trung Tam 1 village, Bao Ai commune), the ship driver is Trieu Van Noi (born 1995, residing in Suoi Hoc village, Cam Nhan commune).
Mr. Tran Anh Tuan bought the vehicle from Mr. Dang Ngoc Chien (born in 1990, residing in hamlet 13, Yen Binh commune) but has not completed the procedures for transferring ownership.
According to records of Lao Dong newspaper reporters on the night of February 21 and early morning of February 22, about 500 people including police, soldiers, people and functional forces are actively searching for 6 victims missing in the passenger ship capsizing on Thac Ba Lake.
To serve the search process for the victims, functional forces have brought oxygen supply machines from the shore to the search area in the middle of Thac Ba Lake.
Following a rescue team, reporters recorded from the lakeside area at the Simco - Fansipang quarry to the area searching for victims about 1.5km, functional forces had to use high-speed boats and ships, but the travel distance was difficult due to darkness and fog.
At 0:00 on February 22, search and rescue forces held a meeting to discuss plans and mobilize frogmen to dive to search for victims.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Lac (born 1987, team leader of Doan Hung rescue team) said - the team mobilized 10 divers and equipment to support the search for 6 missing victims on Thac Ba Lake.
At about 1:30 am on February 22, through the first dive in the area where the ship capsized, it was determined that the ship was lying tilted at the bottom of the lake 17m deep.
Inspecting inside and around the ship, no missing persons were found. Currently, divers are expanding the scope to search for victims.
At 2:30 am, the army force increased with more boats and canoes to support the search work.
Up to now, the search is still ongoing.
