All 410 karaoke bars in Nghe An province have stopped operating.

On March 8, the leader of the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Police Department (Nghe An Provincial Police) said that up to now, 100% of karaoke establishments in Nghe An province have been suspended or voluntarily committed to stop operating. This move took place after Nghe An Provincial Police conducted a general review and inspection of fire prevention, fire fighting and rescue safety in the entire province.

A karaoke service business in Vinh City is deserted after it stopped operating. Photo: Tien Hung

Specifically, in Nghe An province, there are currently 419 karaoke service establishments, bars, and pubs. Of these, 410 are karaoke service establishments and 9 are bars and pubs. To date, the police have conducted 823 inspections and fined 84 cases with a total fine of nearly 834 million VND.

After the inspection, 151 karaoke and bar establishments were suspended from operation; 19 establishments were temporarily suspended and 247 establishments voluntarily committed to stop operations to fix existing problems in fire prevention and fighting systems.

"Of all the karaoke service establishments, bars, and pubs in the province, only two pubs are still operating. These are all very small-scale establishments," said a representative of the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Police Department.

Nghe An Provincial Police inspect fire prevention and fighting at a karaoke establishment in Vinh city. Photo: CACC

Previously, implementing the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Plan of the Ministry of Public Security, on October 12, 2022, Nghe An Provincial Police issued a Plan to review and inspect fire prevention, fighting, rescue and relief safety in the whole province.

According to this Plan, Nghe An Provincial Police directs the police of units and localities to inspect fire prevention, fire fighting and rescue safety for 100% of establishments under the State management of fire prevention and fire fighting. In particular, focus on closely inspecting business establishments with conditions on security and order, large-scale establishments, crowded establishments, and establishments with high fire and explosion hazards. Resolutely handle all existing problems and violations of fire prevention and fire fighting according to regulations, absolutely not allowing establishments that do not ensure fire prevention and fire fighting safety, have been temporarily suspended, or have their operations suspended to continue operating illegally, causing insecurity.