Urgent telegram from Prime Minister on cafe fire in Hanoi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an urgent telegram on December 19 regarding the fire in a cafe that occurred on December 18 in the Cô Nhuê 2 neighborhood, Bac Tu Liêm district, Hanoi, which left several dead and injured.

>> Eleven dead in cafe fire in Hanoi

On behalf of the government, the Prime Minister expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims. He asked the Ministry of Public Security to lead investigations to identify and severely punish violators in accordance with the law.

Police units and localities must intensify the repression of all forms of crime and eradicate social evils. They must also strengthen awareness of the prevention and fight against crime, particularly those linked to conflicts or disrupting public order in the run-up to the Lunar New Year.

The Health Ministry ordered medical institutions to create the best conditions for treating those injured in the fire. Local authorities in Hanoi are responsible for providing material and spiritual support to the families of the victims and ensuring the best care for the injured. In addition, the Ministry of Health must ensure optimal treatments for injured people.

The Prime Minister also asked to raise awareness and supervise compliance with fire safety regulations in crowded buildings, establishments and public places in the run-up to Tet.

Open a judicial investigation

On Thursday morning, December 19, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long went to the fire site to supervise the aftermath management operations and visited the fire victims at E Hospital.

The same day, the Hanoi City Police announced its decision to open a judicial investigation against a 51-year-old man to investigate his act of arson in a cafe, which left 11 people dead in Bac district. Tu Liêm. CVH, a resident of Dai Mach commune, Dong Anh district, was charged with murder. The suspect had two previous convictions for theft and robbery.

At the police station, CVH first admitted that after drinking beer at the café, he had argued with the staff. He then bought gasoline, poured it on the ground floor of the café where several motorcycles were parked and set it on fire. After seeing the flames spreading, he fled the scene. The investigation continues to clarify the circumstances and motives of the tragedy.

VNA/CVN