Molasses spills across the grounds of Song Lam Sugar JSC in Nhan Hoa Commune, Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam, May 3, 2026. Photo: Supplied
At around 5:00 pm, heavy rain and thunderstorms swept through Nhan Hoa Commune.
Then, a bolt of lightning struck the molasses tank at Song Lam Sugar JSC, puncturing it and releasing the molasses across the factory grounds, according to Dang Dinh Luc, chairman of the Nhan Hoa administration.
Authorities estimated losses at VND7-8 billion (US$265,600-303,600).
The company said workers are being mobilized to contain and clean up the spill.
A storage tank at Song Lam Sugar Plant is punctured after a lightning struck in Nhan Hoa Commune, Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam, May 3, 2026. Photo: Supplied
Company leaders said that the plant had previously suffered damage from flooding in 2025, and this latest incident highlights the growing impact of extreme weather on production.
The Song Lam Sugar Plant, originally built in 1958 with foreign aid, began operations in 1960.
In 1999, it was relocated from Hung Nguyen to Nhan Hoa Commune and expanded to process 500 metric tons of sugarcane per day.
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