[Updated] Hydrofoil Goes up in Flames on Saigon River. Operators Were Warned About Safety Risks

[Update Below] Yesterday afternoon a hydrofoil traveling from Saigon to Vung Tau caught fire near Phu My Hung. Even with unclear evacuation instructions, the boat’s 80 passengers were able to safely escape without any serious injuries. Prior to the accident, experts had warned about lack of safety standards on the Soviet-era boats.

At around 1:30 yesterday afternoon, about 15 minutes after departing from Saigon’s Bach Dang Wharf, passengers noticed smoke and flames originating from the back of the boat. After failed attempts to put out the fire with fire extinguishers, the vessel was hastily evacuated, according to witnesses. Luckily, the water’s depth in this area wasn’t particularly high and passengers were able to make a safe escape.

Over 30 boats were involved in the rescue operations to save the hydrofoil’s 80 passengers (of which 37 were foreigners) and 12 crew.

In 2013, there were so many hydrofoil accidents that authorities temporarily suspended operations of the boats last September. Police said that the craft involved in yesterday’s accident had just completed a safety check on 17/1. Apparently it wasn’t particularly thorough…

Vietnam’s hydrofoils were made in the Soviet Union in 1990 and since they went into operation in 1995, they have been continually repaired and maintained. Even so, many involved with the boats’ operation have long been aware of serious safety risks:

Vu Ngoc Thao, director of Ba Ria – Vung Tau’s Department of Transport told Giao Thong Van Tai (Transport) newspaper earlier this year:

“Crew members are always standing outside the boats’ doors, ready for a bad situation. They know for sure that it is not safe to be inside the boats.”

According to Thao, his department had sent five letters to different agencies, warning them of the hydrofoils’ risks and asking them to take action, but received “no responses so far.”

We imagine that after yesterday’s accident, hydrofoil service will be suspended once again.

Update 22/1: Yesterday afternoon HCMC authorities ordered a suspension of all hydrofoil operations in the city as they continue their investigation into Monday’s accident.

Tat Thanh Cang, director of HCMC Department of Transport, told Tuoi Tre that prior to the accident he had recommended all hydrofoils be removed from service due to their age.

Authorities also told the newspaper that 2,000 liters of oil seeping from the wrecked vessel was under control.

[Photo via archer10]