Accident involving 8 Vietnamese laborers in Japan reported

The Department of Overseas Labor (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) has issued an official statement regarding an accident involving eight Vietnamese laborers in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

According to the Vietnam Labor Management Board in Japan (under the Vietnamese Embassy), the group of eight workers was fishing at sea in the Fukui area in the early hours of March 21, when they were struck by large waves.

The incident resulted in one fatality and three people reported missing. One worker was injured and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, while three others were rescued safely.

Immediately upon receiving the news, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Department of Overseas Labor directed the Vietnam Labor Management Board in Japan to urgently coordinate with local authorities, the Fukui government, and the Vietnamese Association in Fukui to assess the situation and provide timely support and citizen protection measures.

Details from the Fukui Coast Guard indicated that at approximately 2 am on March 21, they received a report of an accident caused by high swells at the breakwater leading to the Mikuni lighthouse.

Coast Guard units, police, and rescue teams were quickly deployed to the scene. Rescuers initially saved four workers: three who had taken shelter at the base of the lighthouse and one who was brought safely to shore.

At 9:45 am the same day, a victim was discovered unconscious approximately 4 km from the scene. Although the individual was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter, he did not survive.

The fatality has been identified as Nguyen Duy Thanh, 39, a Specified Skilled Worker based in Osaka, Japan. Still missing are Le Huu Nghia (29), Nguyen Hoang Phuc (20), and Tran Bao Ranh (31). Meanwhile, the injured worker, Le Minh Tri (23), remains hospitalized for treatment.

Japanese authorities are currently conducting an active search for the three missing laborers.

The Vietnam Labor Management Board in Japan has contacted the survivors to provide immediate assistance. The Board is also working closely with relevant Japanese and Vietnamese agencies to continue search and rescue efforts, verify the victims' identities, and notify their families to carry out the necessary formalities.