The Hanoi Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department continues intensifying fire prevention inspections and increasing the maintenance of fire safety systems from one to four times per year, not including sudden inspections, at apartment buildings.

Smoke is seen coming from a fire at the Vimeco apartment building on Nguyen Chanh street, Cau Giay district of Hanoi, on November 24, 2015

At a press conference held by the Hanoi Party Committee’s Commission for Information and Education on April 12, the police said they also organise classes on fire prevention and survival skills in narrow houses and high-rises.

The city has 891 high-rise buildings, 779 of which are in use. The buildings generally observe regulations on fire and explosion prevention and fire warning systems meet technical standards, the police said.

They are also appraised before and after construction and safety in residential buildings has improved in recent years but problems have still surfaced during the operation of buildings, causing fire and explosion threats.

Besides, the police will step up inspections on fire and explosion prevention measures at industrial parks, craft villages, mall centres, markets, warehouses and ports.

Since the beginning of this year, 336 fires and one explosion have been reported in the city, killing at least four and injuring 14 others. The accidents caused total losses of more than 7 billion VND (308,000 USD).

The police said they implemented measures to ensure the safety of events like the Lunar New Year 2016, the 12th National Congress, while holding drills on rescue and evacuation and opening classes to equip participants with fire and explosion knowledge.

VNA