Authorised agencies investigate the sinking of the Thao Van 2 tourist boat in the Han River in central Da Nang City, in which three people were killed on June 4. 

Le Sau, the former director, will be out on bail for assist investigation.

Preliminary investigation showed that as director of the Da Nang Port Authority of Inland Waterways, Sau was irresponsible in his management of boats. 

This led to the boat Thao Van 2 which did not have a licence to carry tourists and was a modified fishing boat with a capacity of 28 people, had been carrying 56 passengers when it capsized.

The tourist boat overturned on the Han River at about 8.30pm on June 4, leading to the drowning of two children and a man and panic among several tourists.

The passengers had not been properly seated on deck, leading to too many people crowding one side of the boat and causing it to capsize.

Two days before the boat sank, the police had found that Thao Van 2 was operating without a licence and had reported to the authority. However, the agency did not suspend the boat’s operations.

Sau was dismissed from his position after the tragedy. Three people - Nguyen Ngoc Quan, a tour guide who sold tickets for the boat tour to customers; Le Cong Chi, the boat captain; and Vo Quoc Hung, the owner of the boat - have been detained.

The city authority suspended the operation of all tourist boats on the Han River and halted the issue of licence to tourist boats that have been upgraded from fishing boats. 

VNS