Criminal charges have been filed against three persons for violating fire safety rules, which led to thirteen deaths in a karaoke bar fire that broke out in Hanoi’s district of Cau Giay in early November.

They include the owner of the bar, Nguyen Dieu Linh, 30, who is accused of running the facility without a fire safety certificate and welder Hoang Van Tuan, 23, who allegedly caused the fire while working on an advertising board at the bar.

Linh also changed the bar’s design, failed to supervise construction work and allowed the installation of a large board covering the entire façade of the building that housed the bar.

Meanwhile Tuan had no certification for arc welding, was not trained on work safety and took no fire prevention measures during his work.

Tuan’s 54-year-old employer, Le Thi, also faces charges for failing to comply with safety regulations and permitting an unskilled worker in a place with a high risk of fires, despite of being aware of the risk.

Tuan and Thi have been taken into custody while Linh is under house arrest because she is looking after her child, who is under 36 months of age.

In addition to killing thirteen, the fire also destroyed several motorbikes and electronic bikes and burned nearby buildings.

Nhan Dan