Seventh Arrest in Collapse of Red River Embankment in Vietnam
Published on 08/30/2026 at 14:57 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Authorities in Lao Cai province have widened their investigation into the failure of a major riverfront infrastructure project, arresting a seventh suspect over the collapse of the Red River stone embankment. The legal action follows extensive damage to the structure during extreme weather in late 2024, and serves as a reminder to construction firms of the serious consequences of non-compliance with technical standards.
Construction Executive Prosecuted
Nguyen Van Anh, the 36-year-old Director of Anh Huong Construction Investment and Trade Company Limited, was prosecuted and placed in temporary detention in late August. Regional authorities confirmed the move on August 27 and August 29, with the executive facing charges under Clause 3, Article 298 of the Penal Code for violating construction regulations resulting in serious consequences.
The suspect, a resident of Hai Phong, is accused of systemic failures in the execution of two specific stone railing and embankment projects along the Red River. These include the protection works on the right bank and the embankment section along An Duong Vuong Street in Lao Cai.
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Forged Documents and Substandard Quality
The investigation by the Lao Cai Provincial Police highlights several critical violations in the construction process. Investigators allege that the director used fraudulent capacity profiles to secure the projects and subsequently faked construction logs and diaries to appear compliant with technical requirements.
Technical assessments indicated that the company failed to control construction quality and did not ensure the technical integrity of the stone railings. These deficiencies were exposed in December 2024 when Typhoon Yagi struck the region. The storm's impact led to the widespread collapse and failure of the stone railings, which the prosecution claims would have remained intact had they been built to the required specifications.
Financial Losses and Expanding Probe
The state has incurred losses estimated at more than 13 billion VND due to the damage and the subsequent need for restoration. The prosecution of the Anh Huong Construction director brings the total number of individuals indicted in this specific case to seven.
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Earlier in the investigation, six other individuals were charged for their roles in the project's failure. The ongoing probe focuses on the accountability of both the contractors and the supervisory entities involved in the Red River embankment works, as regional officials seek to address the financial and safety implications of substandard public infrastructure.
