Rescue was carried out at the scene of the Carina Plaza fire (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s Investigation Police Agency on April 20 started criminalproceedings against Nguyen Van Tung, Director of Hung Thanh Co. Ltd., for his allegedviolations in fire safety regulations, leading to serious consequences in theblaze at the apartment complex Carina Plaza on March 23.
Colonel NguyenSi Quang, spokesperson of HCM City’s Police Department, said the proceedingscame along with a 4-month arrest for Tung. The Hung Thanh Co. Ltd. is theinvestor of Carina Plaza at No. 1648 Vo Van Kiet street, in district 8.
On March 26, criminalproceedings began against the incident, which was caused by a malfunctionedscooter parked in its basement.
Police said theHung Thanh Co. Ltd. had failed to obey fire safety regulations. When the firetook place, necessary equipment was not available, while fire alarms and sprinklersystem did not work.
In 2016 and2017, the Fire Fighting Police Division of district 8 inspected and found aseries of violations at the complex, such as failed alarms, sprinkler system,and emergency lighting system. Orders to fix these problems were sent to theCarina Plaza management board, but no improvements were made.
Carina Plaza isa high-end apartment complex including three buildings with 15-21 storeys and736 apartments. It was put into use six years ago.
Up to 13 peopledied and more than 90 others were injured when the blaze started at 0:30 fromthe parking basement between Buildings A and B of the complex. Hundreds ofpeople were stuck and rushed to upper storeys.
The city’s FireFighting Police Department sent 34 fire trucks and 200 police to the site tocontrol the blaze and rescue stuck people. One hour later, the fire was controlled,but smoke still covered the buildings. Hundreds of people escaped safely.
TheInvestigation Police Agency is expanding its probe into the case and summoningmore involved persons.-VNA
VNA
