14-9-2023 (HANOI) Vietnam’s authorities have issued a nationwide directive for inspections of small apartment buildings following a tragic fire that engulfed a block in Hanoi, resulting in the country’s deadliest blaze in two decades and claiming the lives of 56 people.
The fire broke out on Tuesday night in the motorbike parking area of the building, which was located in a narrow alley in a densely populated area of southwest Hanoi. Witnesses and residents reported hearing screams as individuals struggled to escape through barred windows.
The building, lacking sufficient safety measures, had only one exit and lacked an emergency ladder on the outside. Furthermore, one side of the building had no windows at all, and another side had only small ventilation slots.
In response to the tragedy, the police have been instructed to conduct inspections of fire prevention systems in small apartment blocks and densely populated rental areas. The Ministry of Public Security emphasized that violations would be severely punished.
The owner of the building in Hanoi has been arrested, and initial investigations have revealed that the construction of the 10-storey block had exceeded its licensed limit of six storeys, granted in 2015, according to state media reports.
Among the victims of the fire were at least four children, while 37 others sustained injuries. Some survivors are still in a state of shock, as confirmed by the police and hospitals.
Photographs taken after the fire was extinguished depicted charred motorcycles in the parking area, soot-stained clothes hanging on washing lines outside windows, and a small rope ladder hanging from a balcony.
Vietnam has a population of 100 million, with one-third residing in densely populated urban areas. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two locations with the highest population density in the country, with 2,398 and 4,363 people per square kilometer, respectively.
To address the demand for housing, Vietnam legalized small apartment blocks, commonly referred to as “mini apartments,” in 2014. These structures must consist of at least two fully-equipped apartments, with shared lifts or a staircase. They are primarily owned and constructed by private individuals, and are often later sold or rented to low-income and migrant workers.
This week’s fire is the deadliest in Vietnam since October 2002 when a blaze at the International Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City claimed the lives of 60 people. The country has witnessed several significant fires in recent years, particularly at entertainment venues.
A year ago, a fire in a karaoke bar near Ho Chi Minh City resulted in the deaths of 32 people and injuries to 17 others. The owner was subsequently arrested for violating fire prevention regulations.
In response to that incident, the prime minister ordered inspections of all high-risk establishments. However, many businesses have complained about the onerous regulations, with some struggling to meet the requirements and remaining closed.
In 2016, another fire at a Hanoi karaoke venue claimed the lives of 13 individuals.
