VietNamNet Bridge – Kwong Lung-Meko Co. Ltd. on Tuesday said it has suffered damages of VND368 billion (US$16.2 million) in the five-day fire in Can Tho City’s Tra Noc Industrial Zone on March 23.

Fire-fighters are working hard to put out the huge fire in Can Tho City.

The garment factory’s damages were calculated by an independent unit that its insurance firm hired to evaluate the loss, Tuoi tre (Youth) online newspaper reported. According to the unit, the company could receive a compensation of around VND368 billion.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, the city’s police announced that a short circuit had started the fire, which raged on for five days. The police statement is in sync with the conclusion arrived at by the Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Science Institute.

As per the police report, the fire started at 9.30am on March 23. Hundreds of fire-fighters were dispatched, and the fire was brought under control at 3.30pm. However, it broke out again at 8pm. Fire-fighters from the neighbouring provinces had to be mobilised, and the blaze was totally extinguished on March 27. No casualties were reported.

Less than a month later, on April 16, a small fire reportedly broke out in the factory when a group of welders were dismantling a workshop. However, it was put out immediately.

Kwong Lung-Meko is a Taiwanese company that specialises in feather processing and garment production. Its factory, which employs around 1,300 workers, is spread over 17,000 square metres in Tra Noc Industrial Zone, 15km from downtown Can Tho City in Mekong Delta. 

VNS