More than 2,000 people participate in firefighting and search and rescue drills

This is a joint program between the Ministry of Public Security and Quang Ninh province to concretize the plan and work program of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee; Celebrate the 62nd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh signing the Decree promulgating the Fire Prevention and Fighting Ordinance; 22nd anniversary of National Fire Prevention and Fighting Day (October 4).

Overview of the fire fighting, search and rescue drill in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province

Attending and directing the exercise were representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, leaders of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong , Lang Son provinces, more than 2,000 officers and soldiers of the police force, army, units from 15 provinces and cities in the Northern region, and the people, along with more than 100 mobilized vehicles.

The situation and context of the exercise took place in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City with assumptions made on land, at sea and in the air. The situation started at around 9am on October 1st, when Wyndham Legend Hotel staff discovered a gas explosion in the kitchen area on the 5th floor, causing the building to collapse and catch fire. Smoke, dust and toxic gas covered the area, causing about 800 people on all floors of the building to panic and look for an escape route. The hotel used the on-site fire prevention and fighting force and security forces to organize evacuation instructions and fire fighting, rescue and relief activities, and notify the Fire Police and local authorities for timely fire fighting, rescue and relief.

Representatives of the Ministry of Public Security and Quang Ninh province presented flags and flowers to the units participating in the exercise.

Five minutes after receiving the report, the police and militia arrived at the scene; coordinated with the local fire prevention and fighting force to move assets to a safe area; and assigned tasks to protect the scene, search, approach, guide escape and bring victims trapped in the hotel out.

At this time, on Ha Long road in front of Wyndham hotel, the driver of the gasoline tanker truck, due to loss of concentration and avoiding people, crashed into the chemical truck going in the same direction ahead. The accident caused gasoline to spill and nitric acid type A to leak outside, in front of and inside Van Hai hotel. Van Hai hotel staff quickly approached the area of the gasoline tanker truck, discovered it, rescued and brought the victim out. At the same time, someone called the Fire Police and Rescue Force via phone number 114 about the incident and accident.

Five minutes later, the Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Quang Ninh province mobilized a sand truck and a fire truck of B12 Petroleum Company, 700m from the incident, to the scene, transporting sandbags to form a dike to contain the area to handle the spilled gasoline and chemical leakage. At the same time, deploying forces and vehicles ready to handle fire incidents when they occur.

Forces deployed to put out fires at hotels

At the same time, the rescue work at Wyndham Hotel is still being urgently deployed, the local fire prevention force has guided more than 300 people to safety. However, there are still more than 500 victims still trapped in the building that need to be rescued promptly. Assessing that the fire is large and complicated, the Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Quang Ninh province contacted and proposed the leaders of the provincial police to mobilize forces and vehicles of the police units and localities to participate in the rescue and coordinate fire fighting.

After 14 minutes of the incident, the Fire Police and Rescue Police forces and vehicles were present at the scene, reported to the fire command, organized the search and rescue of victims; and coordinated to handle the chemical incident according to the plan.

Helicopters of Air Force Regiment 916, Air Force Division 371 participate in search and rescue

Realizing that the fire was large and complicated, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police contacted and proposed to the provincial police leaders to mobilize forces and vehicles of police units and localities inside and outside the province to participate in the fire prevention and rescue and coordinate fire fighting. Fire Prevention and Rescue forces from neighboring provinces such as Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Bac Giang also responded, 2 helicopters of Air Force Regiment 916, Air Force Division 371 were mobilized to the scene to organize rescue and search for the roofs of the 2 burning buildings.

At this time, outside the Cua Luc sea area, there was a collision between two tourist boats. The cause was that the boat driver lost his temper and was too busy observing the fire on the shore, causing the boat to catch fire and an oil spill. The accident caused many people on the boat to fall into the sea, many people were trapped on the burning boat, endangering their lives if not rescued promptly. The work of extinguishing the fire at sea continued to be carried out.

After 60 minutes, the fires were extinguished one by one by a "general attack from all directions, gradually localizing and controlling the fire" with the participation of more than 2,000 people and many professional and modern fire fighting equipment including helicopters, fire fighting robots and professional fire fighting vehicles and boats.

The exercise had many new contents, posing very high requirements in solving many difficult situations on land, at sea, and in the air with the participation of many forces, means, equipment, and modern weapons. The forces coordinated closely, operated the realistic mechanism, and effectively handled the situations.

According to the assessment of the Organizing Committee, the exercise was a great success, ensuring compliance with the proposed plan, safety, economy and practicality. Through the exercise, it helps to raise awareness, vigilance and responsibility for fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue work, improve knowledge, enhance the ability to be on standby, ready to respond and handle fire, explosion, incidents and accidents of on-site and professional fire prevention and fighting forces.

At the same time, improve the capacity in command, direction and coordination of operations between forces in handling, improve the leadership and management capacity of authorities at all levels, the role and scope of coordination of operations between forces inside and outside the province.

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