On the afternoon of 12/2, the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, three young men, aged 18-20, all residing in Dien Chau commune, used a ladder to help each other erect a bamboo Neu pole, over 12 meters long, in front of a house to welcome Tet. As they raised the pole, its top section became entangled with a 35 kilovolt power line. All three were electrocuted, fell to the ground, and were critically injured.

Neighbors discovered the incident, quickly ran to a nearby circuit breaker to cut the power, and provided initial first aid. An automobile then transported the victims to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Chairman of the Dien Chau Commune People's Committee, stated that the victims suffered severe burns. Following treatment, all three have passed the critical stage and are no longer in life-threatening danger.

Neu poles are erected by residents along roadsides in communes across Nghe An every Lunar New Year. Photo: Duc Hung

Previously, on 1/2, a couple in Nhan Hoa commune (formerly Anh Son district) also suffered electrocution while erecting a bamboo Neu pole that tangled with a 35 kilovolt power line. The wife sustained severe burns and faced a risk of limb amputation, while the husband received minor injuries.

Neu poles are typically erected from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month and taken down on the 7th day of the first lunar month. According to folk belief, erecting the Neu pole is meant to ward off evil spirits while Ong Cong and Ong Tao (Kitchen Gods) are in heaven reporting on the family's affairs for the year.

In Nghe An, Neu poles are primarily made from fresh bamboo, standing 7-10 meters tall. In recent years, numerous accidents have occurred during Neu pole erection due to insufficient safe distance from the power grid.

Duc Hung