According to state media, 12 Vietnamese soldiers lost their lives in the accidental explosion on Monday night. The fatal accident occurred during a military training exercise at the military shooting range of the 7th Military Region in Dong Nai, South Vietnam.
A report in a local military newspaper revealed that the group was transporting explosives when a lightning strike during a severe thunderstorm caused an explosion by an electronic detonator.
News agency AFP also said that while the bodies of most of the victims had been recovered, authorities were still searching for the missing.
The state-run Vietnam News Agency reported that an immediate investigation into the incident had been ordered by the Ministry of Defense.
The incident came a day after Defense Minister Phan Van Giang delivered a speech to mark the start of the combat drills, as reported by state newspaper Nhan Dan.
