13 dead, 25 injured in shoe factory fire

July 30, 2011 - 10:14 AM

13 workers were dead and 25 others injured after a huge fire hit a Chinese-owned footwear factory in Hai Phong northern city at 4:00 pm on July 29.

Numerous curiosity-seekers flocked to the scene to witness the fire that left 30 workers dead and injured in a footwear factory in Hai Phong on July 29

Police said after preliminary investigations that the factory located in Dai Hoang hamlet, Tan Dan commune of An Lao district covering an area of 70m2 didn’t have a back door while its main door had been blocked.

Nearly 50 workers inside therefore couldn’t escape.

There had been several unsuccessful attempts to rescue the victims because a big wall hindered the rescue.

However, 15 minutes later, the wall was broken down and some victims were rushed to hospitals.

Firefighters arrived on the scene 20 minutes later to extinguish the fire, which was put down at 5:00 pm the same day.

According to local police, 13 workers were burnt to death and 14 others are suffering severe injuries, who are undergoing emergency treatment at Viet Tiep Hospital.

Meanwhile, 10 other workers were reportedly taken to some hospitals in the city for treatment.

Among the perished is a pregnant woman.

Local residents said an electric circuit may be the cause of the fire.

The house was rented by a Chinese man to manufacture footwear products. The owners of the house are Nguyen Van Lanh and his wife Hoang Dinh Su.

At 9:00 pm, the city’s People’s Committee held an emergency meeting to investigate into the fire.

Police officially identified a spark from electric wielding as the cause of the fire.

Police have also detained 6 people involved in the accident including couple A Phong and Bui Thi Hien, couple Bui Duc Lang and Bui Thi Su, Le Van Bay and his brother-in-law Linh.

All of them have been charged with violating safety regulations.

Local authorities have given VND10 million (USD485.2) to each family of the dead victims and VND3 million (USD145.5) to the injured.