Police in southern Vietnam’s Dong Nai Province have detained the Chinese director of a wood processing company for investigation of the boiler explosion that occurred at a factory of the firm on Wednesday, killing six workers including a Chinese national. 

Feng Yong, 39, director of Sunrise Wood Trading Production Company Limited, located in the province’s Vinh Cuu District, has been kept in custody, while seven other foreigners have been banned from leaving Vietnam to serve the ongoing investigation, the Dong Nai police department said on Friday.

The fatal industrial accident occurred at about 8:10 am on May 1 at one of three factories of the company, when about 30 workers were on duty in the boiler area, killing six aged 32-39 on the spot and injuring five others.

Local police were called to the factory, also in Vinh Cuu, to examine the scene and carry out rescue operations.

The wounded workers were taken to Thong Nhat General Hospital in Dong Nai and they have generally been in stable health conditions after intensive treatment, the provincial Health Department reported.  

According to initial investigation, the explosion was caused by a technical fault in the boiler, which was repaired on the day before the accident, according to VnExpress.

In a recent announcement, the company decided to suspend its operation until May 31 to deal with the consequences of the tragic accident.

The firm’s management board extended its sincere apologies to all staff for the recent tragedy, saying the explosion was an unfortunate, unexpected and unforeseeable event.

The board offered condolences to the families of the dead victims as well as to the injured workers.

It affirmed that the company has prepared a plan to give compensation and support to all the victims, while waiting for the results of the investigation.  

All workers will receive a month’s basic salary for May – the period of suspension of operation – while getting full payment as normal for April, the board said in the announcement.

It also called on all employees to unite with the company to overcome this difficult period.

This company operates three factories, including two in Vinh Cuu and the other in Trang Bom District, employing a total of 400 Vietnamese and 15 foreign workers, according to the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

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