VINA EXPRESS 01

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Hydrofoil exploded and sank on Saigon River - 92 rescued

The "Vina Express 01" being enroute from Ho Chi Minh City to the beach town of Vung Tau on Jan 20, 2014, caught fire and sank following an explosion. Ho Chi Minh City authorities have halted the use of all hydrofoils in the city pending safety inspections. HCMC mayor Le Hoang Quan ordered that the use of all hydrofoils in the city be suspended for inspections of the vessels.The suspension took effect immediately. It was not clear yet when it will be lifted. Quan also ordered city police to investigate why rescuers did not respond to the accident as quickly as they should have. The "Vina Express 01" was carrying 85 passengers - 37 of them foreigners and seven crew members when it caught fire 15 minutes after departing the Bach Dang Wharf in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Although the scene was chaotic as the passengers jumped off the boat and into the water, everyone was safe as the captain had piloted the vessel to shallow waters near shore. No one was injured in the accident. Some of the passengers were transferred on another boat to Vung Tau, others were provided hotel rooms and some locals returned home. Passengers were disembarked at the Bach Dang Wharf, many foreigners stayed overnight at the Bong Sen Hotel. City authorities have instructed the hydrofoil’s owner, Vina Express Joint Stock Company, to compensate passengers for their damages. Reports with photos: http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20140121-hcmc-suspends-hydrofoils-to-vung-tau.aspx http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/94270/social-headlines-january-21.html http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Hochiminhcity/2014/1/107742/ http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20140120-boat-bursts-into-flame-in-vietnam-metro-river-no-injury.aspx http://m.trongngay.net/tin-tuc/xa-hoi/tp-hcm-tam-dung-hoat-dong-tau-canh-ngam/603978.html http://www.binhthuantv.vn/newsprint.php?newsid=55889 http://dbv.vn/xa-hoi/tp-ho-chi-minh/nldo-tam-dinh-chi-hoat-dong-tat-ca-tau-canh-ngam-406998.html http://www.baohomnay.com/news/Xa-hoi/Nguoi-phu-nu-cuu-15-khach-nhay-tu-con-tau-boc-chay-372722/