Английская Википедия:2002 Ho Chi Minh City ITC fire

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:More citations neededШаблон:Infobox event Шаблон:History of Hồ Chí Minh City On 29 October 2002, a fire occurred in the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The six-story building was occupied by a luxury department store, a disco and offices of several foreign companies. The fire killed 60 people and injured 90 others, making it one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in Vietnam.

Building

The building had been insured since 1997, the Reuters news agency reported, for a total value of 12.3 billion Vietnamese đồng (about 800,000 USD) at the time of the fire.Шаблон:Full citation needed

Inferno

The fire occurred on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, beginning at 1:15 p.m. local time (0615 GMT).Шаблон:Citation needed Thirty fire engines and 40 ambulances surrounded the building.Шаблон:Citation needed Intense heat and flames prevented firefighters from entering the building for about four hours.Шаблон:Citation needed It took firefighters more than five hours to extinguish the inferno.Шаблон:Citation needed Bodies were still being recovered from the site late that day.Шаблон:Citation needed

According to officials in the Vietnam People's Army, firefighters were not adequately equipped to fight the fire and lacked water to put out the flames.Шаблон:Citation needed Power in the area was cut off and streets were cordoned off.Шаблон:Citation needed Flames raged at the windows, sending dense black smoke into the sky as workers fled for their lives, many down steel ladders reaching up from fire trucks below.Шаблон:Citation needed Others jumped out of the windows.

The next day, police barricaded the building, to keeping onlookers at bay.Шаблон:Citation needed At least five fire fighting vehicles were at the site on Wednesday, although none were in use.Шаблон:Citation needed

The fire killed 60 people and injured 90 more.Шаблон:Citation needed

Two welders were later arrested for causing the fire. They had been working at the disco on the second floor, and it was suspected that sparks from their equipment may have started the blaze. Along with their supervisor and their employer, they were charged with "violating regulations of fire prevention and combating". They were found guilty, and the court imposed sentences of 2 to 7 years in prison.Шаблон:Dead linkШаблон:Citation needed

International reaction

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji: "I am shocked to learn of the big fire that occurred in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam ... On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in my own name, I extend my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to you, and through you, to the bereft families."

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana: "Europe is shocked to hear about the inferno and whole Europe extends its deepest sympathies to the families of those, who lost their lives."Шаблон:Citation needed

Pope John Paul II sent a message expressing condolences to the families of victims of the fire in Ho Chi Minh City.

U.S. President George W. Bush: "I am shocked to learn of the big fire that took the lives of so many innocent people in Ho Chi Minh City. Let us express our sympathy to the families of the victims."Шаблон:Citation needed

Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid: "We offer our heartfelt sympathies to those who suffered due to the inferno."Шаблон:Citation needed

See also

• 2023 Hanoi building fire

External links

• Culprits of ITC inferno receive 2 to 7-year prison sentences vietnamnews.vnanet.vn
• High hopes for ITC site. (News).(Ho Chi Minh Citys ill-fated International Trade Centre, ravaged by an inferno last October) goliath.ecnext.com
• In pictures: Ho Chi Minh's inferno news.bbc.co.uk
• Chinese Leader Expresses Sympathy over Ho Chi Minh City Fire english.peopledaily.com.cn
• Fire in Ho Chi Minh City Put Out english.people.com.cn
• Dozens feared dead in Saigon fire www.theage.com.au
• Papal condolences to families of Vietnam inferno victims www.cathnews.com
• Dozens killed in Vietnam office inferno archives.cnn.com
• Memorial for Vietnam fire victim news.bbc.co.uk