The Government offers its deepest condolences to the families of the three firefighters who died.

The scene of the fire at the karaoke bar at 231 Quan Hoa Street, Quan Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Kien/VNA

At around 1:00 p.m. on August 1, a fire broke out at 231 Quan Hoa Street, Quan Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City, killing three officers and soldiers of the Hanoi City Police Department's fire prevention, fighting, and rescue force while fighting the fire.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh signed Official Dispatch 683/CD-TTg to direct on this matter. The dispatch clearly stated:

On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister, and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the relatives and families of the fallen officers and soldiers and give the following instructions: The Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi People's Committee shall direct the organization of visits, encouragement, timely support measures and full implementation of policies for the fallen officers and soldiers and their families; direct the functional forces to focus on overcoming the consequences and investigating and determining the cause of the fire, and strictly handling violations according to the provisions of law.

The Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall direct functional forces to strengthen propaganda, guidance, and fire prevention and fighting drills; improve professional skills, equip necessary tools and support means to minimize casualties for forces directly involved in fire prevention, fighting, and rescue; regularly inspect and review facilities at high risk of fire in the area, promptly detect, correct, and remedy violations, and resolutely suspend or terminate operations of facilities that do not ensure fire prevention and fighting safety.

In case of serious violations, criminal liability must be considered and prosecuted according to the provisions of law./.