The police of the northern province of Hai Duong have decided to criminally prosecute over the recent trade centre fire which caused  estimated losses of more than VND500 billion (USD23,809).

Police examining the scence of the fire

According to the traders, the fire started at 1:00 a.m on September 15 but  two hours passed before the fire brigade arrived. They brought two fire engines, but one ran out of water and the other had technical problems. The traders also questioned the location of the centre’s security guards when the fire broke out.

Between September 15 and 19, the police inspected the site and started investigating the case. The initial investigation showed that it was a lack of responsibility by the centre's management board and by electricians and security guards on the night shift that led to the great losses caused by the fire.

In operation since 2001, Hai Duong Trade Centre, covering 10,000 m2, has three floors with nearly 2,000 stalls belonging to more than 500 traders. It's been the province’s largest wholesale centre for dozens of years.