Phan Van Tho, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Welfare on Dec 20 came to Suoi Sap 1 Hydropower plant construction site to begin the mission inspecting the cause leading to the death of eight workers in an accident at the Suoi Sap 1 Hydropower plant construction site in the northwestern province of Son La on Saturday.
Witnesses said that dozens of workers had gathered in the turbine installation area of the plant when a water discharge valve burst. The victims were from Son La, Nam Dinh and Nghe An Provinces. The Suoi Sap 1 Hydropower plant, located in Ta Xua Commune, some 70km from Son La City, began construction in 2009. The Xuan Thien private company was assigned as contractor for the project.
Some 10 people managed to flee the scene whereas many others were sucked into the sluice system.
Four bodies were recovered yesterday while four others, thought to be dead, were still trapped inside.
Rescue workers continue to pump water out of the system in an effort to search for the missing.
