Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh on Thursday signed a decision to grant certificates of national merit to 12 soldiers who died in an accidental explosion during a defensive combat exercise conducted by Military Region 7 in southern Vietnam.

These 12 martyrs included Sergeant Major Dang Quoc Binh and 11 Sergeants, namely Truong Van Tien, Pham Ngoc Hieu, Nguyen Bui Truong An, Lam Hoang Nhat, Bui Hy Lap, Nguyen Trong Hoa, Nguyen Ho Gia Huy, Vo Thanh Hieu, Thong Minh Kiet, Hong Chi Tai, and Trinh Doan The Anh.

They belonged to a battalion established by the armed forces from different localities that joined the exercise organized from December 1 to 4, the decision said.

The military drill was conducted amid harsh weather conditions in complex terrain, according to the Ministry of National Defense, which also sent forces to the drill.

The soldiers were transporting a block of explosives to a designated assembly point at the National Shooting Range Area 3 in Dong Nai Province at 8:27 pm on Monday when the area was hit by heavy thunderstorms. 

The explosives they were carrying detonated while they took shelter from the storm, killing all of them.

Most of their bodies were found later, and the search for the remainders continued.

Initial reports suggest that lightning could have struck the electrical detonator of the block of explosives, triggering the blast.

In a message released on Thursday to the chairman of the Dong Nai administration, the Minister of National Defense, and the Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and directed the defense ministry and other relevant agencies to visit these families for condolence and support. 

He required that all appropriate policies and regimes be fully applied to the deceased soldiers and their families to help them overcome the great pain and loss.

The Prime Minister also called for an investigation into the cause of the explosion and a comprehensive review of all procedures related to the command and operation of the exercise to draw lessons and ensure absolute safety in future training and drills.

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