A Vietnamese court has sentenced eight individuals to prison over a devastating fire that tore through a Hanoi apartment block in 2023, killing 56 people in what has been described as the country’s deadliest blaze in two decades.
The fire, which occurred in September 2023, spread rapidly through the nine-story building, which had only a single exit and lacked an emergency ladder on the exterior.
Residents and neighbors reported hearing desperate screams as victims attempted to escape through barred windows.
Agence France-Presse reported that the court found the building’s owner, Nghiem Quang Minh, guilty of violating fire prevention regulations, sentencing him to 12 years in prison.
The verdict stated that he deserved “the most serious punishment” for his role in the tragedy.
In addition, seven local officials received jail terms ranging from 30 months to seven years for “lack of responsibility causing serious consequences,” after they failed to properly report the owner’s violations.
The apartment block’s design left little room for emergency escape, with one side completely devoid of windows and another featuring only tiny ventilation slots.
The Hanoi court ruled that Minh’s actions were “very dangerous,” adding that they had “caused especially serious consequences in human lives and material damage.”
“Among those dead and injured were several children and people of the same family, causing huge pain,” the court’s verdict stated.
The case has underscored concerns over fire safety regulations and enforcement in Vietnam, where rapid urban development has often outpaced safety measures.
Authorities have vowed to tighten inspections and implement stricter regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
