Hà Nội's Party Committee officials and staff observed a minute of silence for 56 victims who died in the fire. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Officials, pupils, students and people across Hà Nội on Monday morning (September 18) held a memorial ceremony for 56 victims who died in a mini apartment fire in Khương Hạ Street of Thanh Xuân District last week.

At 7.30am, at the headquarters of the Hà Nội Party Committee, Đinh Tiến Dũng, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee, and officers and staff observed a minute's silence for the fire victims.

After the memorial service, the Hà Nội Party Committee officials and staff participated in donations for the families affected by the fire.

Hà Nội's Party Committee Secretary Đinh Tiến Dũng makes a donation for families of the victims. — VNA/VNS Photo

At 8am, in the hall of the Hà Nội chapter of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front, Chairperson Nguyễn Lan Hương and officers, staff, and workers also held a memorial service for the victims.

Public officers, employees, and workers also made donations to support the affected families in the tragedy.

During the flag-raising ceremony this morning, many schools, offices, districts’ People’s committees, and ministries in Hà Nội observed one minute of silence in memory of the victims, as well as organised fundraising for the victims of the fire.

The Hà Nội Police officers and soldiers at a memorial service. — VNA/VNS Photo

The Hà Nội Police said that in recent days, the city police force has been actively investigating and clarifying the cause of the fire, treating the injured and coordinating with other departments and organisations to carry out policies to help the victim's family quickly overcome their loss and re-stabilise their lives.

The Hà Nội Police’s officers and soldiers have donated a total of VNĐ500 million (US$20,632) to help the victims' families.

According to Thanh Xuân District chapter of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front, as of September 17, organisations and individuals in Hà Nội and across the country have donated VNĐ55.4 billion ( ($2.2 million) in support of the victims.

Previously, city leaders requested departments, districts and towns to direct functional units to temporarily halt cultural, sports, and entertainment activities and events organised by the units under the city’s management from September 14 to September 17.

Students and teachers of Thành Công Secondary School at a commemoration service. — VNA/VNS Photo

The mini apartment fire at No. 37, lane 29/70, in Khương Hạ Street, Khương Đình Ward of Thanh Xuân District occurred on the night of September 12, killing 56 people and injuring 37 people, making it the deadliest fire incident in Việt Nam in recent years.

The Hà Nội Police last week has issued a decision to launch legal proceedings against 44-year-old Nghiêm Quang Minh, the owner of the apartment building, and ordered a four-month temporary detention, on charge of violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting per Article 313 of the Penal Code. — VNS

People of Khương Đình Ward of Thanh Xuân District in a moment of silence for the fire victims. — VNA/VNS Photo