A serious accident happened on Saturday morning at the construction site of a hotel developed by a Ministry of Defense firm in Da Nang, claiming five lives and severely injuring one person.

Inspectors in Da Nang are trying to determine the cause of the accident at the Royal Lotus Hotel Da Nang on Nguyen Van Thoai Street, Son Tra District, Nguyen Van An, deputy director of the municipal Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said on Saturday afternoon.

“The developer of the construction project, Duyen Hai Company, has submitted an initial report on the case. We will notify the press as soon as the final conclusion is reached,” An said.

He added that local authorities had visited and provided VND5 million (US$224.9) in financial support for each family of the victims.

Duyen Hai Company’s report showed that at 1:30 am on Saturday, six people, including workers and employees of the building material distributor, were using the construction hoist to carry themselves and the materials to a higher floor when a malfunction caused the lift to fall freely.

The construction site where the accident happened on January 30, 2016

Two of the six victims, namely Mai Manh Tuong, Nguyen Van Hien, Nguyen Dinh Duong, Tran Van Tung, Tran Van Dung, Tran Huu Thue, died instantly, according to the report.

The other four were immediately taken to Da Nang General Hospital, of whom three succumbed to injuries at the infirmary at around 9:00 am while the other is in a critical condition.

Huynh Duc Tho, chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, has also arrived at the scene to inspect the incident.

Initial investigation pinpointed that the fall happened as the hoist cables suddenly broke.

The construction of the Royal Lotus Da Nang Hotel is funded by Duyen Hai Company, under the management of the Ministry of Defense, and carried out by its central branch, the Da Nang People’s Committee said in a statement.

The hotel, which will have 18 stories and 1,000 four-star rooms upon completion, is in the final phase of its construction.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)