HANOI, Sept 8 (NNN-VNA) – A fire in southern Vietnam’s Binh Duong province, killed 32 people, it was reported yesterday.
The fire engulfed the second and third floors of a local three-story karaoke bar, on Tuesday night, spread quickly, trapping staff members and customers inside, according to the report.
The death toll in the accident had risen to 32, with 16 males and 16 females killed, as of 8:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) yesterday.
The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit and spread quickly, as it caught the soundproof foam mattresses and the wooden interior, the provincial People’s Committee of Binh Duong was quoted as reporting.
A total of 13 fire trucks and 66 firefighters were deployed to the scene, and the blaze was brought under control in an hour. The authorities are further investigating the incident.
Vietnamese President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and asked authorities at both state and local levels, to support the families.
A total of 1,147 fires and explosions occurred in Vietnam from Jan to Aug this year, killing 65 people and injuring 65 others, according to the country’s General Statistics Office.– NNN-VNA
