Quang Ngai authorities use restored portrait to identify unknown martyr

Authorities in Quang Ngai province have discovered a faded portrait of a woman and a rubber sandal inside an unidentified martyr's grave at the Hanh Thinh Martyrs Cemetery in Dinh Cuong commune. The items were found during excavations of grave number 9 in the West area as part of an effort to collect biological samples for DNA testing.

Specialists have successfully restored the portrait, which was originally only 50% visible, to provide clearer information for identification efforts. The Quang Ngai Military Command is working with professional agencies and local authorities nationwide to cross-reference records and verify the identity of the deceased.

The excavation is part of a ‘500-day campaign to promote the search, collection, and identification of martyr remains’. The Hanh Thinh cemetery contains 591 graves, 260 of which remain unidentified. To date, officials have excavated nearly 50 graves in the area.