The fire at the Rang Dong light bulb warehouse in Hanoi's Thanh Xuan District has seriously affected people living nearby. — VNA/VNS Photo

In the petition, local residents said those living in the 54 Ha Dinh Apartment Building, which was near the Rang Dong Light Source and Vacuum Flask JSC in Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District, were most heavily affected by mercury leakage caused by the fire.

After the fire occurred on August 28, 95 per cent of the households had to be evacuated. Up to 80 per cent of the households have now returned home.

Affected households requested the company pay compensation for those who lived within 100m of the blaze.

The company was asked to pay medical treatment costs of up to VND4 million (US$172) per person, rent of up to VND60 million ($2,580) per household, and income loss caused by the fire of between VND6-8 million ($258-344) per person.

In addition, the company was required to pay for the emotional distress of VND60 million ($2,580) per person and VND1 billion ($43,008) for every litre of blood contaminated with 0.1 micrograms of mercury.

On October 16, nearly two months after the fire, representatives of affected households in the 54 Ha Dinh Apartment Building met with the representatives of the company to claim compensation.

Deputy director of the company Tran Trung Tuong said the company would respond to the residents soon.

However, the households have not yet received any response from the company.

The households have asked the authorised agencies to urge the company to complete compensation, especially households who had not returned home due to the fire.

No serious contamination risks after Hanoi light bulb warehouse blaze

The Rang Dong JSC has said it no longer uses mercury and other toxic chemicals in it products, clearing concerns over possible contamination after the fire at its light bulb warehouse on Wednesday.  

VNS