HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam saw 3,006 cases of fire, killing 98 people, injuring 180 others and resulting in a loss of more than VNĐ1.24 trillion (US$55.1 million) and destruction of 1,800ha of forest cover this year.

The facts were declared at a conference on fire prevention and control held by the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday.

More than 40 per cent of the fires occurred in homes and other places at high risk, including industrial zones, residential zones, bars and karaoke shops.

As many as 70 per cent of the fires were caused by electrical short circuit.

Colonel Lê Tấn Bửu, director of the HCM City Fire Prevention and Control Police, said education on the field was not strong enough and residents had low awareness on fire prevention.

Colonel Bửu proposed to improve awareness on fire prevention and called for the participation of different ministries and sectors in the effort.

At the conference, representatives said fire prevention and control measures had a number of shortcomings.

The safe spaces between buildings were too narrow, affecting fire control efforts. Most of the houses hired for trading did not have fire control equipment and fire exits.

Residents did not have the necessary skills to evacuate in case of a fire and the local military force did not work effectively.

The country also faced shortage of funds required to invest in fire control equipment.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Bùi Văn Thành proposed that the departments of fire prevention and control police in the provinces and cities join hands with concerned organisations to set up a system of norms and regulations on fire prevention and control.

Awareness on fire prevention must be improved, with a focus on teaching skills required in case of evacuation.

Further, enterprises which did not ensure regulations on fire prevention and control must be punished strictly, he said. — VNS