Investigation is underway in the site where a lorry carrying 39 bodies was found in Waterglade industrial park, Grays town, Essex county, 32km east of London, on October 26, 2019 (Photo: PA/VNA)

The PM tasked relevant agencies to coordinate closely with UK authorities to bring the victims home as soon as possible. In a statement released Thursday evening, the Ministry of Public Security said the 39 citizens have permanent residence in Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Thua Thien-Hue. The same day, the British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward expressed his sincere condolences to the victims’ families and friends.

People in Vietnam were shocked to learn that the victims were Vietnamese nationals. Teacher Le Huy Phi from Nghe An province said: “As a Vietnamese citizen, I was shocked and sorry for the losses of the victims. We should strongly condemn human trafficking and call on all countries to co-operate to fight this crime. Illegal labour migration is not only dangerous but also debases the dignity of the Vietnamese people while the Party and State are working to enhance the prestige of Vietnam in the international arena.”

Thieu Thi Phuong of Hanoi said: “I hope that the Vietnamese Government and authorised agencies in the UK will bring the victims home as soon as possible.”

On Thursday afternoon, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland Tran Ngoc An joined members of the Vietnamese Association in the UK and other overseas Vietnamese in laying flowers to commemorate the 39 Vietnamese victims.