Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan inspects Carina Plaza apartment complex (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party CommitteeNguyen Thien Nhan on March 23 requested screening all firefighting plans in allapartment buildings in the city while inspecting Carina Plaza apartment complexwhere a fire broke out, killing 13 people and injuring 28 others early on theday.
Theblaze broke out at 0:30 am from the parking basement, and its smokes suffocated11 out of the 13 victims. Six of the victims have been identified.
Stressingthe serious consequences of the fire, Nhan asked for drastic measures to tacklethe consequences, as well as further investigations on firefighting work at CarinaPlaza and other apartment complexes in the city.
He stressed the need for relevant agencies to train emergency exit events andplans in case of fires.
Visitingthe victims and their families at Nguyen Tri Phuong hospital, he expressed his deepestcondolences to families of the deceased.
Heasked the municipal Police Office and relevant agencies to quickly define theidentity of the remaining victims.
Hospitalswere required to provide the best and free treatment for people injured in thefire.
Thecity decided to provide 60 million VND (2,634 USD) for the family of each deadvictim, and 10-15 million VND for each person in emergency aid at hospitals.
Alsopresent at the fire scene, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee NguyenThanh Phong emphasised the need to treat the injured, visit families of thedeceased, and take measures to help affected people soon stabilise their lives.
Phongalso asked the police to clarify locals’ statement that the fire alarm did notwork when the fire broke out.
MajorGeneral Phan Anh Minh, deputy head of the municipal Police Office, said thatthe fire originated from a vehicle in the basement.
Thefire doors at the basement and several storeys remained open at the time whenthe incident occurred, making smoke go up to the upper floors easily, he said.
TheFire Fighting Police Department of the city sent 34 fire trucks and 200firefighters to the site to control the blaze and rescue the people remainedstuck. Five cars and over 150 motorbikes parked in the basement were completelydamaged.
CarinaPlaza is a high-end apartment complex including three buildings with 15-21storeys and 736 apartments. It was put into use six years ago.-VNA
VNA
