Firefighters at the scene of the fire in Quan Hoa Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh has signed an official dispatch to direct agencies to visit and support the families of three firefighters, who died while tackling a blaze at ISIS karaoke bar at Quan Hoa Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội at about 2pm on Monday.

On behalf of the Government, Minh has sent his condolences to the families of the firefighters.

He also told the Ministry of Public Security and the People’s Committee of Hà Nội to focus on investigating and determining the cause of the fire and strictly handling violations in accordance with the law.

Besides, the ministry and the People’s Committee of localities in the country are ordered to strengthen instruction and drills of fire prevention and fighting; improve professional skills, and equip necessary tools and support means to minimise casualties of firefighting forces, he said.

The ministry and localities have to regularly inspect facilities with high fire risk to promptly detect and suspend them from operation to ensure the safety of firefighting prevention and control, he said.

If any facility is found to be seriously violating regulations on firefighting prevention and control, it will be prosecuted in accordance with the law, he added.

Officials of the Ministry of Public Security and Hà Nội’s Police Department direct firefighting activities at the scene. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

In a related move, General Tô Lâm, a member of the Politburo and Minister of Public Security, on Tuesday approved a decision on posthumous promotion for the three firefighters for bravely sacrificing themselves while on duty.

The three firefighters were Lieutenant Colonel Đặng Anh Quân, 45, captain of the Firefighting Prevention and Control Police Team under the Cầu Giấy District’s Police; Sub-lieutenant Đỗ Đức Việt, 24, member of the team; and Private Nguyễn Đình Phúc, 19, member of the team.

Accordingly, the minister decided to promote the Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel for Quân; from Sub-lieutenant to Lieutenant for Việt; and from Private to Corporal for Phúc.

Also on Tuesday, the Central Committee of the Youth Union said that it already decided to posthumously award the Brave Youth Badge for Việt and Phúc for their bravery in duty.

Hà Nội administration has assigned the Emulation and Rewards Board and the Hà Nội’s Police Department to posthumously award the soldiers, who had a brave spirit and sacrificed themselves while on duty to protect the people.

Previously, an initial investigation of the local police department on Monday evening revealed that after saving eight people from the fire, the three firefighters continued to return to the burning build to extinguish the fire and search for other victims. Suddenly, the ceiling of the karaoke bar collapsed, killing the three firefighters.

The fire started on the top floor of the six-storey building at about 1:30pm, which used to be a karaoke bar before closing for repairs. Only electricians had been working there recently.

After receiving the news of the fire, the local police immediately dispatched dozens of fire engines and dozens of firefighters to put out the blaze.

The police are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Secretary of Hà Nội Party Committee visits the families of three dead firefighters on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

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Secretary of Hà Nội Party Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng along with leaders of Hà Nội’s administration visited the grieving families of the three officers on Tuesday.

Dũng conveyed his condolences, saying he was touched by the bravery and the sacrifices of the three firefighters on duty.

The Hà Nội’s leader also presented each family with cash support of VNĐ 10 million (US$428) from Hà Nội Fatherland Front. — VNS