Around 2 p.m., residents along National Highway 51 heard a loud explosion from a nearby scrap collection yard. As they rushed to the scene, a fire erupted, rapidly spreading across an area of about 200 square meters. The distraught female owner ran out, stating that her husband, Pham Van Tuan, 56, and their neighbor, Nguyen Van Quyen, 50, were still inside.

Police examining the scene after the explosion. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Nearby residents attempted to extinguish the flames and rescue the victims but were unsuccessful. Firefighters deployed several specialized vehicles to the site and brought the blaze under control after about 30 minutes. Inside the premises, authorities discovered the bodies of Mr. Tuan and Mr. Quyen.

According to residents near the scene, the explosion was powerful. "I was sitting nearby drinking water when I heard a loud bang, thinking it was a tire on the highway," said Ms. Hang. "Before I could recover, there was a second, smaller explosion."

Meanwhile, Mr. Toan, who lives about 100 meters from the scrap yard, recounted that after hearing the two explosions, he rushed over to see a raging fire and thick black smoke, making it difficult to approach. "At that moment, people didn't know what had exploded, so they didn't dare to get too close," he added.

The initial cause was believed to be an acetylene gas cylinder exploding while Mr. Tuan was using a metal cutting and welding machine. Dong Nai Police arrived to examine the scene and are investigating the explosion.

Phuoc Tuan