Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on March 23 requested screening all firefighting plans in all apartment buildings in the city while inspecting Carina Plaza apartment complex where a fire broke out, killing 13 people and injuring 28 others early on the day.

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan inspects Carina Plaza apartment complex

The blaze broke out at 0:30 am from the parking basement, and its smokes suffocated 11 out of the 13 victims. Six of the victims have been identified.

Stressing the serious consequences of the fire, Nhan asked for drastic measures to tackle the consequences, as well as further investigations on firefighting work at Carina Plaza and other apartment complexes in the city. 

He stressed the need for relevant agencies to train emergency exit events and plans in case of fires.

Visiting the victims and their families at Nguyen Tri Phuong hospital, he expressed his deepest condolences to families of the deceased.

He asked the municipal Police Office and relevant agencies to quickly define the identity of the remaining victims.

Hospitals were required to provide the best and free treatment for people injured in the fire.

The city decided to provide 60 million VND (2,634 USD) for the family of each dead victim, and 10-15 million VND for each person in emergency aid at hospitals.

Also present at the fire scene, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong emphasised the need to treat the injured, visit families of the deceased, and take measures to help affected people soon stabilise their lives.

Phong also asked the police to clarify locals’ statement that the fire alarm did not work when the fire broke out.

Major General Phan Anh Minh, deputy head of the municipal Police Office, said that the fire originated from a vehicle in the basement.

The fire doors at the basement and several storeys remained open at the time when the incident occurred, making smoke go up to the upper floors easily, he said.

The Fire Fighting Police Department of the city sent 34 fire trucks and 200 firefighters to the site to control the blaze and rescue the people remained stuck. Five cars and over 150 motorbikes parked in the basement were completely damaged.

Carina Plaza is a high-end apartment complex including three buildings with 15-21 storeys and 736 apartments. It was put into use six years ago.

VNA