At a meeting with relevant agencies, Deputy Minister Sang emphasized the urgent need for the city to assess the scale of the spill, implement immediate containment and cleanup measures, and develop long-term strategies to prevent recurrence. The oil spill, resulting from the collision of a ship carrying hazardous materials, has raised serious concerns about maritime safety and environmental protection in the area.

Oil spill caused by a ship collision on the Long Tau River in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: NLD)

The Deputy Minister requested Ho Chi Minh City to:

- Identify and quantify the extent of pollution caused by the spill.

- Investigate the root causes and determine responsibility in coordination with port and transport authorities.

- Assess short- and long-term impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and local livelihoods.

- Launch legal procedures to hold responsible parties accountable and ensure proper compensation.

In addition, the city was asked to work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Transport to coordinate response efforts.

Deputy Minister Sang also emphasized the need for temporary adjustments to waterway traffic in the affected area to ensure safety and facilitate recovery operations.

“We must take this incident as a warning and strengthen monitoring systems, emergency response mechanisms, and environmental safeguards across the inland waterway transport system”, he said.

The Ministry of Construction affirmed its commitment to supporting local authorities in developing both immediate and long-term solutions to restore the affected areas and prevent future incidents.