More than 5,000 people and 200 vehicles take part in a firefighting and rescue drill at the Bến Thành underground metro station in HCM City on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the HCM City Police

The simulated scenario involved a fire and explosion at the transformer station of the underground station at 10am with thousands of people shopping and dining at the station.

It involved a malfunction of the automatic doors of a train, leaving 300 people trapped, 30 of them passing out. 

The fire spread quickly and toxic smoke billowed out, causing panic and resulting in around 50 people being injured in a stampede. 

Some were trapped under collapsing structures in underground levels B1 and B2, and 10 others in an elevator without much oxygen. 

The smoke spread throughout the station.

Besides, a road accident occurred at the intersection of Trần Hưng Đạo, Lê Lợi, Hàm Nghi, and Lê Lai streets involving a car and a medical supply truck.

Four people were trapped inside the vehicles, while fuel leaking from the truck caused a fire.

Personnel from the city firefighting and rescue forces arrived the scene with and were joined by firefighters from neighbouring Bình Dương and Đồng Nai provinces. 

The drill took nearly two hours and ended with everyone being rescued.

Lieutenant General Lê Hồng Nam, director of the HCM City Police Department, said such drills are vital due to the high foot traffic at Bến Thành station and its complex structure. 

To facilitate the drill, the Department of Transport closed 13 roads around the station from December 4-18 (from 5-7:30 am) and from December 21-23 (from 9am-12pm). 

The 19.7-km metro line No. 1 between Bến Thành Market in downtown District 1 and Long Bình Depot in Thủ Đức city is almost complete and set to begin commercial operation in July 2024. — VNS