Number of fire fatalities triples in Ho Chi Minh City

Doan Van Chon, deputy director of HCM City Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, at a conference on January 30 said that although the number of fire incidents fell by 953 cases compared to 2016, the fatality and injury rates increased. 44 people were injured by fires in 2017, five more casualties than the previous year.

Colonel Chon said fire prevention and fighting suffered from complications last year. Leaders of many businesses have not paid the necessary due attention to safety standards. Residents are still living in some high-rise buildings where fire prevention and control measures have not yet been inspected. Furthermore, many apartment buildings do not meet the requirements for fire prevention and control standards.

He urged the relevant agencies to strictly enforce legal regulations and coordinate with police to check and issue strict fines to businesses and apartment buildings which fail to meet the safety standards for fire prevention and control.