About 11 karaoke bars in Cau Giay District, Hanoi have been shut and dozens suspended after fire inspections following the death of 13 people in Tran Thai Tong Street.

Hoa Do Karaoke Bar doesn't have a fire safety certificate

Cau Giay District authorities said on November 4 they had asked agencies to inspect business requirements and fire safety in the district. Wrongdoings at various karaoke bars were found.

The owner of the Hoa Do Karaoke Bar in Trung Hoa Ward, which went into operation in 2012, doesn't have a fire safety certificate. He was also only allowed to use one room but had opened three more. The mini fire extinguishers don't work and the exit route also doesn't meet requirements.

Phan Thi Hai Yen, deputy chairwoman of Trung Hoa Ward, said, "We have inspected 16 karaoke bars since November 1. All of them met requirements for fire safety and have business licences. However, 15 of them had huge sign boards that cover the whole front of the building. They have been suspended and ordered to remove the boards by November 16."

Tran Viet Ha, deputy chairman of Cau Giay District said they closed 11 unlicensed karaoke bars. 88 karaoke bars were suspended for further inspection.

After inspecting karaoke bars, they will conduct inspections at 382 motels and guest houses that also have high fire risks.

239 facilities were issued certificates on fire safety and 632 facilities were recorded to have met fire safety requirements. But reports from Hanoi Fire Safety and Rescue after a recent field survey showed that only 201 facilities met the requirements. When being asked while many karaoke bars were recorded to meet requirements on fire safety but in fact didn't, Major Bui Tuan Khanh from the Fire and Rescue Police Department 3 said they didn't have detailed regulations on fire safety at karaoke bars by December 4, 2015.

"We don't manage the huge sign boards. We did, however, tell the owners to re-install the board or build a buffering wall in case fire starts due to the sign boards and spreads inside," he said.

Dtinews