15-9-2023 (HANOI) The owner of an apartment building in Hanoi has been arrested following a devastating late-night fire that claimed the lives of 56 people, with 37 others sustaining injuries, as reported on the government’s official website.
The tragic incident occurred just before midnight on Tuesday, and the building’s owner faces charges of violating fire prevention regulations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed the Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi People’s Committee to initiate an investigation into the fire’s cause and to rigorously address any regulatory violations, according to an official government statement.
While firefighters managed to contain the blaze, the building’s location at the end of a narrow alley posed significant challenges for rescue operations. Numerous individuals remained trapped within the building until dawn, as reported by state media outlets.
Among the 56 confirmed fatalities, 39 victims have been identified by the police, as disclosed by the state-owned Vietnam News, citing information from Hanoi police. State-owned national television channel VTV reported that four children were among the casualties.
Initial reports regarding the death toll were muddled, given that the injured and deceased were transported to various hospitals throughout the city. Many of those hospitalized suffered from smoke inhalation and injuries sustained during their desperate attempts to escape the building.
Authorities are actively investigating the fire’s origin, which is believed to have started in the building’s parking area. It is particularly distressing to note that the structure lacked emergency exits.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the police have detained the building’s owner.
The building in question was a “tube house,” a narrow and multi-story residence accommodating families and students. Images of the building depict its walls blackened by soot, with wires surrounding it twisted and damaged by the intense heat.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety measures in densely populated urban areas. Last year, a fire at a karaoke parlour in Binh Duong province in southern Vietnam claimed the lives of 32 people.
