Nghe An receives 5 bodies of 39 people found dead in container in UK

On the morning of November 27, a delegation from Nghe An province arrived at Noi Bai airport (Hanoi) to receive the bodies of people who died in the UK more than a month ago. Of the 16 bodies brought back to Vietnam this time, 5 were from Nghe An.

Ambulances are present at Noi Bai airport to transport the bodies back to their hometowns for burial. Photo: VNA

After receiving information about the death of 39 people in a container in the UK, including Nghe An citizens, the People's Committee of Nghe An province promptly directed departments, branches and localities to notify families with relatives working and living abroad to proactively contact to verify the information and promptly notify local authorities.

For families who have reported that they have not been able to contact their relatives abroad, local authorities will promptly visit and encourage them, and at the same time request the families to provide samples for DNA testing; carry out citizen protection procedures according to the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (confirming the family's wishes on the application forms); proactively implement plans to receive the bodies or ashes back to the locality and ensure security and order at the local level.

This time, 5 bodies of Nghe An citizens were handed over to their families. Photo: VNA

According to the plan agreed between the Vietnamese and British governments, there will be two trips to move and hand over the bodies or urns of ashes of the victims to the localities.

In the first phase, at 7:00 a.m. on November 27, representatives of the authorities and local authorities of Nghe An province received the bodies of 5 Nghe An citizens and transported them to the victims' families for burial according to local customs, practices and regulations. Of these, 4 bodies had permanent residence in Dien Chau district; 1 body had permanent residence in Hung Nguyen district.

In the second phase, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes an official announcement, the People's Committee of Nghe An province will direct relevant departments, agencies and localities to receive, transport and hand over the remaining bodies or ashes to the victims' families.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province also requested the local Party Committee and authorities where the victim is located to promptly visit, encourage, share the pain and loss, and hope that the family will have less pain, overcome difficulties, and stabilize their lives; at the same time, coordinate to help the family organize the victim's funeral.

Previously, on October 23, British police found 39 bodies in a container at the Grays Industrial Park in Essex. After verification, authorities announced that all the deceased were Vietnamese nationals. Nghe An province had the most victims with 21 people, Ha Tinh 10 people, Hai Phong 3 people, Quang Binh 3 people, Thua Thien Hue and Hai Duong each had one person.

Currently, British police have arrested 4 suspects, one of whom is being prosecuted and tried on 41 charges, including the manslaughter of 39 people, participating in a conspiracy to traffic people and assisting illegal immigration. Meanwhile, in Nghe An, Nghe An police have also summoned, arrested and detained 9 people involved in illegally sending people abroad.