Four Vietnamese citizens injured in Lao border explosion
VOV.VN - Densavan district of Savanakhet province in Laos was hit by a huge explosion along the Vietnam-Laos border at 9 a.m. on December 3, leaving two Lao nationals dead and six others injured, including four Vietnamese people.
The scene of the event is located approximately 300 metres from the Lao Bao international border gate in Huong Hoa district of the central province of Quang Tri. The force of the blast destroyed several cars in the area, said witnesses.
Preliminary reports say the incident happened when Lao customs officers stopped a truck carrying building materials with hidden firecrackers inside for checking.
The explosion took place close to a petroleum storage facility in Densavan district, resulting in the fire spreading on a much larger scale.
Border guards of Quang Tri province swiftly mobilised two fire engines and 20 soldiers to the scene to support their Lao colleagues. The fire was put out after two hours.
Colonel Le Van Phuong of Quang Tri province’s border guards warned about an increase in firecracker smuggling ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday that may threaten the lives of many people.