Police in the northern province of Hai Duong have reported 13 incidents due to illegal firecracker using and smuggling, and seized around 35kg of firecrackers during the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Provincial authorities had instructed concerned agencies to work in co-ordination with the police to strengthen patrol and checks in key areas and routes to detect and prevent the smuggling of firecrackers.

The province has also been conducting campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of firecrackers in schools and encouraging students to report violations to the police.

In Nghe An Province, the police caught dozens of people red-handed bursting firecrackers at night during the Tet holidays in Dien Chau, Anh Son, Do Luong and Yen Thanh districts.

In recent years, the central province has become a hotbed for smuggling of firecrackers. Just before Lunar New Year’s Eve, the police had seized 2.5 tonnes of firecrackers.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said that around 130 people were hospitalised in the country because of accidents related to firecrackers on Tet. 

VNS