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Rescuers gather at the site where a 10-year-old boy is trapped in a 35-meter deep shaft at a bridge construction area in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam, January 2, 2023. Photo by AFP |
Doan Tan Buu, vice chairman of Dong Thap Province, said the situation is "critical" and all rescue forces are needed to save the boy, who fell into a concrete pillar at a construction site in the southern province at around noon Saturday.
The rescue team has decided to save the boy by pulling up the pillar, which has a close end at the bottom, by first softening the ground around it with drilling and pumping water.
Rescuers have drilled more than 30 meters down the soil next to the pillar, and are expected to go the remaining five meters within Monday night.
Le Hoang Bao, director of Dong Thap's Transport Department, said the team are determined to pull the pillar up by Tuesday morning.
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The plan to soften the soil around the pillar and pull it up. Graphics by VnExpress/Khanh Hoang |
Drilling has been conducted over the past 48 hours to soften the soil around the pillar, but it had to be done with caution to prevent the pillar from leaning or breaking and endangering the boy.
A firefighting officer in HCMC, whose unit used to rescue people from hundreds of meters underground, said the boy’s case is "very complicated" as he’s stuck in a pillar that is too narrow for any rescuer to climb into.
"The only solution is to pull the pillar up."
The tragic accident happened when the boy, Thai Ly Hao Nam, and three of his neighbors went to a bridge construction site on Provincial Road 857 in Phu Loi Commune to get some pieces of iron. Nam was walking when he fell into the hollow concrete pillar that was 25 centimeters in diameter, where he was trapped.
The moment the boy falls into the pillar as captured by a security camera.
A geological exploration camera that can goes 500 meter underground has also been readied to locate the boy. The camera can see in darkness and its images can suggest suitable rescue measures. However, it won’t be able to tell if the boy is alive.
Buu, the province's vice chairman, said the rescue team cannot install the camera and soften the ground at the same time. They will prioritize pulling the pillar up, before trying to locate the boy and cutting the pillar apart to free him.
He said the boy is likely to suffer from multiple injuries, and the rescue team has prepared to provide emergency aid to him and his family members who could be shocked at seeing him.
Le Hoang Bao, director of Dong Thap’s Transport Department, said the rescue work stopped for a couple hours on Sunday night and was resumed early on Monday.
Bao said the construction site was fenced and there are warning signs. But the department will look into any possible safety violations after the rescue completes.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue, and ministers of national defense, public security, transport, and construction to provide necessary forces and connect with experts experienced in the matter to help with the rescue.
