VietNamNet Bridge – Following an overall inspection of all karaoke shops, Ha Noi has decided to suspend 126 shops and asked more than 530 others to temporarily close.

The fire was at a karaoke shop on No 68 Tran Thai Tong Street, Cau Giay District, on November 1 last year killing 13 people.

The 530 shops can reopen by the end of this year if they address the violations.

The information was declared this week in a meeting attended by the press and the Ha Noi Party Committee’s Commission for Publicity and Education.

Deputy director of the Ha Noi Department of Fire Prevention and Control Police Nguyen Tuan Anh said following a fire at a karaoke shop on No 68 Tran Thai Tong Street, Cau Giay District, on November 1 last year, which killed 13 people, the police conducted an overall inspection of all karaoke shops.

The police checked more than 1,500 karaoke shops and imposed administrative fines on 353 shops, worth VND871 million (US$38,700).

Common violations included lack of fire prevention and control measures because the shops were located in small alleys, limited water sources and large advertisements that hindered an emergency exit in case of a fire.

Tuan Anh also said the capital had nearly 2,700 water outlets for fire control, but 380 outlets could not be used because they were too far from water plants.

The capital needed some 4,000 more water outlets for fire control, he said.

Under the present conditions, firemen’s ladders could reach only till the 16th floor, therefore fire prevention was very important, Tuan Anh said.

Director of the Ha Noi Department of Fire Prevention and Control Police Hoang Quoc Dinh said information about a fire was generally reported to the police 6-10 minutes late. Almost 70 per cent of fires were informed to the police by neighbours, while only 30 per cent were informed to by house owners themselves.

VNS