• Nearly 550 fires, explosions in four months

• Bomb blast wounds workers, damages national road

Initial investigations showed that atmospheric lightning triggered a mass of mines prepared for a quarry blast to detonate one hour prior to the scheduled time.

Local competent agencies quickly arrived on the scene as part of a search and rescue team to monitor the unexploded mines to prevent further explosion.

The Cuong Thinh Co-operative which hired the victims provided the deceased’s families with the financial support of VND100 million (US$4,800) if they were local and VND120million (US$5,700), if they came from a neighbouring province.

The quarry explosive disaster in Thuy Nguyen District has prompted the municipal authorities to start conducting a thorough safety assessment in quarries across the city.