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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, October 30, 2002

59 People Killed by Fire in Ho Chi Minh City

At least 59 people, including two foreigners, were killed in a fire that engulfed a six-storey building in Ho Chi Minh City's International Trading Centre (ITC).


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At least 59 people, including two foreigners, were killed in a fire that engulfed a six-storey building in Ho Chi Minh City's International Trading Centre (ITC).

Reports from the municipal police made available at 11:00 hrs on Wednesday also said that the fire has injured 102 people.

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City have instructed all agencies to get involved in overcoming heavy consequences of the blaze, first to organise memorial services for the victims, to condole and support their families.

The municipal authorities have also decided to halt all entertainment activities in three days, from Oct. 30-Nov.1.

They praised the city's police who mobilised 64 fire engines and 400 policemen to the site and initially took 57 people out of the centre.

The police said the fire started at 13:30 hrs yesterday at the first floor hired to the U.S. insurer American International Assurance (AIA). The fire was basically put out at 16:30 hrs the same day.

The ITC located at 101 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Boulevard, consists of six floors each having a floor space of 600 sq.m. The first floor has been rented by 172 jewellery, precious stone, footwear, garment and cosmetics shops. The second and third floors are for a disco and representative offices of 27 foreign companies; the fourth, the centre's office; the fifth, a meeting hall where the AIA was organising a training course for 80 members; and the sixth, a canteen. All four floors were in the blaze.

The police have set up a team to investigate the case.

Source: Vietnam News Agency


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