One drainage worker died and four others were injured after they were stuck in a sewer system in Binh Chanh District under Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday morning.

The incident happened at 3A20 Tran Van Giau Street in Pham Van Hai Commune at 9:20 am, the firefighting and rescue police agency in Ho Chi Minh City said on the same day.

Two special-use vehicles and 12 police officers were dispatched to the scene for rescue operations.

The rescuers equipped with oxygen masks approached the trench, discovering the body of K.L., 38, and pulling it from the sewer system. 

The rescuers saved four workers who were suffering injuries in the culvert. They are Vo Huynh Bao Anh, 36, Diep Bao Cuong, 33, Tran Trung Binh, 43, and Ngo Khai Minh, 22.

The injured were quickly rushed to Cho Ray Hospital in District 5 for medical emergency.

They were identified as employees at a drainage company in the city.

The accident occurred while they were draining the sewer system.

An official from the People’s Committee of Pham Van Hai Commune blamed the tragedy on a lack of oxygen.

Police are cordoning off the scene to investigate the incident.

Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company Limited had earlier written to the People’s Committee of Binh Chanh District informing the latter of a plan to drain sewer systems in many streets, including Tran Van Giau, in July.

The plan is aimed at emptying the drainage systems and reducing flooding in the district.

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