~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2001]
[Year 2002]

Viet buildings fail fire inspections

HANOI - All but two of 40 buildings inspected in Vietnam's southern business capital of Ho Chi Minh City failed to meet fire safety regulations, state media said yesterday. The inspections were carried out in the wake of the deadly Oct 29 blaze that swept through an office block in the heart of the city, killing at least 61 people.

Inspectors documented 450 violations in the buildings, which included business centres, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and hospitals, the Lao Dong newspaper reported. Blocked or inadequate emergency exits and a lack of fire extinguishers were the main problems, it said. The city authorities temporarily closed one office block in Binh Thanh district, as well as a bar and a restaurant in two downtown districts, for gross violations of safety standards. Police lieutenant-colonel Nguyen Manh Hung said further inspections would be carried out and building owners and managers would be strictly punished for violations.

'Most of the managers have not paid enough attention to fire prevention and control, leaving the buildings in danger of fire and risking the lives of many people,' he said.

Agence France Presse - December 16, 2002.