
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh on September 13 asked competent forces to quickly deal with consequencesof the deadly fire that broke out at a mini apartment building in Hanoi lateSeptember 12 night, and trace its cause.
In a dispatch sent to the Minister of PublicSecurity and Chairpersons of provinces and centrally-run cities, the PM notedthat the blaze, occurred at 11:22 p.m at the 10-storey building in an alley on Khuong Ha Street, Thanh Xuan district, caused severe consequences, with many casualties.
On behalf of the Government, PM Chinh extended hisdeepest condolences to the families of the victims, and urged Hanoi to providethem with material and spiritual support.
The municipal People’s Committee needs to closelycoordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to instruct competent forces toidentify responsibility of organisations and individuals involved, and strictlyhandle wrongdoings (if have) in line with legal regulations.
The ministry and localities were asked to continueseriously observing instructions of the National Assembly, the Government andthe PM on firefighting, and regularly monitor fire-prone facilities, especiallymini apartment buildings and rental houses.
The same day, Chinh made a fact-finding trip to the blazefire and visited the victims who are being treated at Bach Mai Hospital in thecapital city.
He asked competent agencies to seriously implementthe dispatch, stressing the need to perfect regulations on firefighting in miniapartment buildings and densely populated areas, and step up the communicationswork in this regard.
It was reported that the hospital admitted 26victims of the fire, of whom two died on the way, and four are in seriousconditions.
The block is designed in the tube house style,featuring one facade and three sides adjoining other residential properties.
There are approximately 40-50 flats available forlease, predominantly occupied by families and students.
The structure boasts an underground car park, eightstoreys of apartments, and a top floor balcony.
Each level comprises five apartments, ranging insize from 35 to 56sq.m./.