Hanoi. A tragic accident has claimed the lives of six soldiers during military training in Vietnam. Six soldiers were killed when a BMP-1 armored vehicle sank during training at the TB1 National Shooting Range in Bac Ninh city in northern Vietnam. The accident happened on Thursday, official information about which was released by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense on Saturday.
According to the Defense Ministry, the accident occurred at around 8:25 am in Bien Son commune. During training, the BMP-1 armored vehicle suddenly developed a technical fault, after which the vehicle sank. Six soldiers of the 102nd Regiment of the 308th Division of the 12th Corps lost their lives in the accident.
The deceased soldiers belonged to Company 10, Platoon 5 and Squad 4 of the 9th Battalion. The dead are said to include two corporals i.e. heroes and four sergeants i.e. havildars. As soon as information about the accident was received, military officials started action at the spot and gathered information about the circumstances of the incident.
Prime Minister expressed grief, soldiers will get special honor
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung expressed deep sorrow over the death of soldiers in the accident. He signed the order on Friday out of respect for the dead soldiers. Under this, all the dead soldiers “Fatherland's Recognition” i.e. Certificate of Honor from the Motherland Announced to be provided.
The government has also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers. This incident that happened during military training has once again raised questions about the security arrangements and the condition of the equipment used during military exercises.
Military accidents have happened in Vietnam before
This is not the first incident of accident during military training in Vietnam. Earlier in December 2024, there was a sudden explosion during training in a firing range of the 7th Military Region located in Dong Nai. 12 Vietnamese soldiers were killed in that incident.
It was reported that the electric detonators of the party carrying the gunpowder were activated by lightning during a severe storm, resulting in the explosion.
Earlier in July 2014, a military plane had crashed during a routine military exercise near the capital Hanoi. 16 people lost their lives in that accident.
These frequent military accidents in Vietnam have made it important to monitor safety standards and military equipment during training. However, in the present accident, a technical fault in the BMP-1 vehicle has been said to be the immediate cause of the incident.