Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam— Two workers were killed Saturday when a boiler exploded inside a garment factory in a major industrial zone near Ho Chi Minh City.
The blast happened at around 7:05 a.m. local time at a factory in the Tan Dong Hiep Industrial Zone in Di An, Binh Duong Province. The boiler, used to supply steam for fabric dyeing, ruptured during startup for the morning shift. The explosion blew out a wall and sent metal fragments across the production floor.
Workers nearby were thrown to the ground. Two men operating the boiler, aged 34 and 41, died instantly. Four other workers suffered burns and shrapnel injuries. They were taken to Binh Duong General Hospital. One remains in intensive care.
The provincial Department of Labor said the boiler was a 10-year-old unit rated for 8 tons per hour. Its safety inspection certificate had expired in August 2026. The factory had applied for renewal but continued to operate. The company failed to halt use pending inspection.
"The pressure gauge was showing high before it went," one worker told labor inspectors. The comment points to a possible failure of the pressure release valve. Investigators are examining whether the valve was clogged with scale, a common issue in poorly maintained steam systems.
The factory employs about 600 workers making export garments. It is owned by a Vietnamese-Korean joint venture. Management said in a statement it is cooperating and will compensate the families. The statement did not address the expired certificate.
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has ordered a nationwide check of industrial boilers in garment zones. Binh Duong alone has more than 1,200 registered boilers. Officials said enforcement has lagged as factories rush to meet year-end export orders.
Police have sealed the boiler room. Technical experts from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology are on site. The investigation is now centered on maintenance records and inspection lapses.
The factory remains closed pending results.
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