Despite Fire Tragedy... Vietnamese Authorities Detect 140 Karaoke Venues Failing Safety Inspections

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Myunghwan] Following a karaoke bar fire in southeastern Vietnam that claimed the lives of dozens, local reports have emerged indicating that karaoke bars in major Vietnamese cities failed to comply with safety regulations.

According to local media VN Express on the 10th, fire departments and police authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city, and nearby Dong Nai Province recently conducted crackdowns on karaoke bars in the area, uncovering numerous establishments that did not meet safety requirements.

The Dong Nai police conducted surprise inspections at 150 locations, identifying 50 establishments violating safety rules, and temporarily suspended operations at 4 of them. Ho Chi Minh police also carried out crackdowns on 300 establishments, detecting 90 violations and shutting down 2 of them. Ho Chi Minh police plan to investigate all karaoke bars throughout the city to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

This investigation was launched after a fire broke out at a karaoke bar in Binh Duong Province in the southeast on the night of the 6th, resulting in 32 deaths and sparking public calls to strengthen safety regulations in entertainment venues. Local police suspect the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed cities and provinces to enhance safety at karaoke facilities and to suspend operations of establishments violating related regulations. He also emphasized that each facility must add additional emergency exits to prepare for fires and other accidents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.