18 killed in central Vietnam rockslide

[News_Editor]

18 killed in central Vietnam rockslide

2011-04-03 00:16:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

HANOI, VIETNAM (BNO NEWS) -- A quarry rockslide killed 18 people and wounded six others on Friday in central Vietnam's Nghe An province, authorities said Saturday.

The victims, including 11 women, were found dead after more than 1,000 cubic meters of rocks that slid from Len Co mining site buried 35 workers Friday morning, VietNamNet online newspaper reported.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau, deputy director of the Nghe An province police department, said another six victims who were seriously injured in the accident were taken to hospital for emergency treatment.

The provincial authorities have offered VND5 million ($239) to the victims' families and VND3 million to each injured worker.

About 300 policemen, soldiers, health workers and specialized vehicles arrived to the site to help with the rescue operation that faced difficulties due to the complex terrain.

Chin Men Co., Ltd. was licensed to exploit the quarry, with five mining sites set up there. Initial investigations showed that the company didn't comply with regulated mining procedures.

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