Hanoi Vietnam –
At least 14 people died in a fire that broke out at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam, local media reported on Wednesday.
At least 40 other people were injured in a fire at a four-story gathering place in Thuan An city, Binh Duong province that occurred around 9 p.m. Tuesday, trapping employees and customers inside, according to a report on the website. website of Tuoi Tre newspaper and other Vietnamese media.
They said the fire was under control within an hour but was still smoldering on Wednesday, more than 12 hours later.
Reports said some people suffered suffocation injuries and others broke limbs as they jumped from high floors to try to escape the fire. Firefighters using ladders from their trucks tried to rescue others.
Provincial authorities said they are investigating the cause of the fire that broke out on the second or third floor.
Enforcement of safety standards at entertainment venues in many parts of Southeast Asia is sometimes lax and is blamed for many deaths in the event of a fire.
A pub in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand, was performing live entertainment without a permit when a fire broke out in early August, trapping many people inside, police said. exit is blocked or locked.
So far, 23 people have died from that fire, 13 of them on the night of the fire and 10 in the month since. Many people suffer severe burns over most of their body, making it difficult to prevent deadly infections. At least five other victims are believed to be still on ventilators.
