~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Test missile kills four in northern Vietnam

HANOI - Four villagers were killed instantly when a Russian-made test missile blew up while they were extracting its explosives, an official said Wednesday. The blast was so strong that more than 100 villagers were called to help search for remains Monday in Bien Son village in Bac Giang province, 90 kilometers (56 miles) northeast of Hanoi, said a local government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Vi Van Ten, 31, and his wife found a SAM2 missile in the jungle near their home Monday morning that had landed unexploded following a recent drill by a nearby missile unit, he said. Vi then invited his relatives Vi Van Kim, 30, and Vi Van Vinh, 21, to help work on the missile to remove its explosives to sell for dynamite fishing, the official said.

The three men had extracted some 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of explosives when they invited another man, Nong Van Thanh, 21, to help them and then the accident occurred, he said. The Vietnamese army had sent troops to look for the unexploded missile, but they could not find it. They also warned villagers of its danger and asked them to inform the unit if the explosive was spotted, he said.

The Associated Press - December 24, 2003.