Explosion during training exercise kills 12 Vietnamese soldiers: state media

Top generals and government officials attended Sunday's opening ceremony of the 4-day military exercise.

Dec 5, 2024 - 17:00
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Explosion during training exercise kills 12 Vietnamese soldiers: state media

Read a version of this story in Vietnamese

An explosion killed 12 Vietnamese soldiers during a training exercise at a military shooting range in southern Vietnam, state media reported on Wednesday.

The blast took place on Monday as soldiers transported explosives amid heavy rain and thunder in the 7th Military Region in Dong Nai province, according to the official Vietnam News Agency.

Initial findings indicate that lightning struck an electric detonator, causing it to detonate the explosives, the agency reported.

Authorities have found most of the victims’ bodies and were continuing a search on Wednesday, the report said.

“This tragedy represents an immeasurable loss for the unit, families, and comrades,” the military was quoted by the agency as saying.

State media reported on the incident on Wednesday evening after news of the explosion had already spread on social media.

Vietnamese military personnel attend the opening of the Military Region 7 defensive combat exercise on Dec. 1, 2024 in Dong Nai province.
Vietnamese military personnel attend the opening of the Military Region 7 defensive combat exercise on Dec. 1, 2024 in Dong Nai province.

On Wednesday, the YouTube channel of the People’s Army Newspaper was still featuring a report on the opening ceremony of the military exercise, which took place on Sunday and was attended by Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang.

Giang oversaw and delivered the opening speech at the ceremony. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, the chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and the country’s vice minister of defense, was also present.

Also in attendance were leaders of general departments and agencies of the Ministry of National Defense as well as representatives from other military regions, military branches and academies, the newspaper reported on Monday.

The exercise was conducted to test combat readiness and practice defensive operations, the newspaper reported.

Edited by Matt Reed.