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Six Vietnamese Soldiers Killed as Armored Vehicle Sinks During Training Exercise
By Maya Wilson
Six Vietnamese soldiers were killed after their BMP-1 armored vehicle malfunctioned and sank during a training exercise in northern Vietnam, according to a statement by the country’s Ministry of National Defense reported by VnExpress International.
The ministry said the incident occurred on Thursday at the TB1 National Firing Range in Bien Son Commune, Bac Ninh Province. Its statement was issued on Saturday morning, Vietnam time.
The six soldiers belonged to the 102nd Regiment, 308th Division, 12th Corps. They were serving in Squad 4, Platoon 5, Company 10, Battalion 9, according to the ministry’s account.
The ministry identified those killed as Corporal Pham Van Tam, from Ho Vuong Commune in Thanh Hoa Province; Corporal Nguyen Tien Duc, from Nghia Do Ward in Hanoi; and Sergeant Mai Thanh Phuong, from Ba Dinh Commune in Thanh Hoa Province.
The other three were Sergeant Nguyen An Ninh, from Vu Duong Commune in Ninh Binh Province; Corporal Lam Duy Khanh, from Ninh Cuong Commune in Ninh Binh Province; and Sergeant Hoang Long Nhat, from Phu Xuyen Commune in Hanoi.
The six names and their home localities were provided by the Ministry of National Defense. The statement described the vehicle as having malfunctioned before it sank during the exercise.
Posthumous recognition
Vietnam’s prime minister has decided that the six soldiers will posthumously receive certificates bearing the title “Fatherland Acknowledges Your Merit”, according to the ministry’s statement.
The defense ministry is also completing procedures to recommend official commendations for the six men. The announcements of the posthumous certificates and proposed commendations followed the ministry’s confirmation of the deaths.
The recognition is being arranged for all six soldiers named in the statement. The ministry’s announcement identified their military units and home localities, while confirming that they died in the same training incident.
Circumstances remain unclear
The ministry’s account establishes that the BMP-1 malfunctioned and sank during the exercise, but it does not explain what caused the malfunction.
The available report does not state how many people were aboard the vehicle in total or whether anyone survived. It does not identify the body of water involved or give its depth.
Details of any rescue efforts were also not reported. The ministry’s statement, as carried by VnExpress International, did not say whether an investigation had been ordered.
The circumstances leading to the vehicle sinking therefore remain unclear in the information made public. The ministry has not said how the malfunction occurred.
Maya Wilson
World Desk, The Library Media
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