Authorities in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Thap have mobilized hundreds of people and machines to rescue a 10-year-old boy from a concrete pile hole which is planted into the ground by some 35 meters and has a diameter of 25 centimeters.

The reason why the boy named Ly Hao Nam, residing in Phu Loi Commune, Thanh Binh District, is trapped in the concrete pile pit in the Roc Sen Bridge construction site in Phu Loi Commune remains unknown.

Le Hoang Bao, director of the provincial Department of Transport, said on Sunday that the rescue operation started at 11:30 am on Saturday.

Earlier, Nam and three friends came to the Roc Sen Bridge construction site to pick up scrap iron and Nam fell into the concrete pile hole.

“I cannot understand how he fell into the hollow concrete pillar, which has a diameter of a span only and has been planted into the ground by 35 meters," Bao said.

“The rescue force has given him oxygen for breathing. Due to the narrow hole, rescuers cannot climb down to the position of the boy.

“They will make soil surrounding the pile softer to reduce friction, and later drill and use a crane to pull out the pile."

The Dong Thap Department of Transport has mobilized eight excavators, cranes, and augers, and hundreds of commune-, district- and provincial-level police officers to rescue the child.

Cao Thanh Xuan, secretary of the Party Committee of Thanh Binh District, said he spent all Saturday night at the scene of the incident. The district has mobilized all possible resources to rescue the boy.

“The only way is to drill on the two sides of the pile and pull it out of the ground. Officials are proactively seeking ways to help the boy,” Xuan added.

As the concrete pile pit is deep, the boy’s health condition cannot be determined.

It is unfeasible to drop ropes to rescue him as the concrete pile pit is too narrow, the victim cannot tie the rope around his body, a rescuer said.

Vice-chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee Huynh Minh Tuan, who has stayed at the scene of the incident since Saturday afternoon, said he would mobilize all possible resources to save the boy.

“The incident is rare. With available vehicles and equipment, we are striving to come up with the best rescue solution," Tuan said.

“We will never give up."

The Roc Sen Bridge project has been executed for some six months. Concrete piles have been planted into the ground but have not been covered with soil.

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