Hanoi Police Department on March 10 cautioned residents about the dangers of stockpiling fuel after reports that some households had begun purchasing large quantities of petrol and diesel for storage.
According to the police, recent fuel price increases have prompted some people to bring large containers or tanks to petrol stations in order to buy and store fuel at home. Authorities said the practice poses a serious risk of fire and explosion, threatening the safety of both households and surrounding communities.
Storing petrol and oil poses a fire and explosion risk (Illustrative image: P.T.).
To ensure safety, the Hanoi police advised residents to buy only the amount of fuel needed for immediate use and avoid storing petrol or diesel at home in any form.
In cases where households have already stored fuel, authorities recommend strict safety measures. Petrol and diesel should be kept in a separate storage area and never inside living spaces where people reside.
The storage area should be well ventilated, protected from direct sunlight and kept away from high temperatures to reduce evaporation and the build-up of flammable vapours.
Residents were also advised to prevent fuel from spilling and to keep storage containers far from open flames or heat sources such as cooking stoves or areas where ritual paper is burned.
To improve fire safety at home, authorities urged households to ensure emergency escape routes are available.
Residents are also encouraged to equip their homes with basic fire-fighting equipment suitable for their conditions and to install smoke detectors to enable early fire detection.
In the event of a petrol or diesel fire, people should immediately alert others nearby and contact fire and rescue services by dialling 114, while also informing the nearest police station or local authorities.
