Hanoi commemorates building fire victims

Offices and schools in Hanoi on Monday held a memorial service for the victims of the recent apartment building fire in Thanh Xuan District.

Officers at Hanoi Police Department hold a minute of silence to commemorate 56 people who died in the fire.

Between 7.30 am and 8 am on September 18, all offices and schools in the city held a minute of silence to commemorate 56 people who died in the fire on Khuong Ha Street on September 12.

Teachers and students at Khuong Dinh Secondary School held a memorial service for the victims on September 18. Some students of the school had died in the fire. Photo by TTXVN.

Earlier local authorities had suspended cultural, sporting and entertainment events from September 14 to September 17 to mourn the victims.

In addition to the suspension of secular activities, religious groups in the city have been holding requiem masses to pray for the deceased’s souls.

Crowds of residents have come to offer incense to the deceased and made donations to the survivors from the fatal blaze and to those who lost their loved ones.

Hanoi Police confirmed on September 13 that 56 people including 10 children died and 37 others were injured in a fire that erupted in the 10-story building at 11:50 pm on September 12. Over 90 survivors escaped the flames.