More than 7,000 people practice responding to a stampede during a fire or explosion on Nguyen Hue Street.

According to the rehearsal scenario, three fire and explosion situations on stage, on the restaurant train and on the street caused thousands of people to panic, jostle, push and trample each other, creating a disaster.

On the morning of January 11, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee chaired and coordinated with specialized and professional units under the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense to organize a drill on handling emergency situations of fire and explosion and organizing escape, fire fighting and rescue at the pedestrian street area of Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Bach Dang Park (opposite Nguyen Hue - Ton Duc Thang Street) and the area of Wharf No. 3 of the City Passenger Wharf - Saigon River. This is the first event in the country on emergency handling of fire and explosion and escape in crowded places, attracting more than 7,000 participants.

According to the hypothetical situation, during the fireworks display event in the Thu Thiem Square - Saigon River area and the ABC festival on Nguyen Hue walking street (near Ben Bach Dang Park) to celebrate the country's major holiday in 2025, a fire and explosion occurred. The cause was an electrical system fire, explosion, causing the fire to spread to the entire main stage area; under the stage there were a large number of gas cylinders used to create smoke, fire, and stage effects (gas, CO2, liquid nitrogen...).

Due to the heat radiation emitted from the fire, some gas cylinders exploded, causing the gas mixture to collapse. At the same time, the fireworks display attracted millions of people to visit the Saigon River area near Ben Bach Dang Park and neighboring roads. The fire, explosion and collapse of the above construction caused thousands of people to panic and try to escape, and in the crowd, many people jostled, pushed and trampled on each other, causing a disaster that injured hundreds of people.

At the same time, at the Bach Dang - Saigon River wharf area, a restaurant ship with license plate SG008 was departing, with a large number of people gathering to eat, drink and have fun. When the fire and explosion were discovered, people panicked on the shore, looking for a way to escape. In particular, the kitchen staff of the ship left their positions, leaving many flammable and combustible items (cooking oil, spices containing alcohol...) near the kitchen in use and did not close the central gas valve of the kitchen area (open flame), causing a large fire on the ship, injuring many people trapped on the ship and some people lost their composure, panicked and escaped by jumping into the river.

At the intersection on Ton Duc Thang Street, a serious traffic collision also occurred, causing two cars to be deformed and four people to be trapped inside. Fuel leaked from the car and met with a heat source, causing a fire. Combined with the strong impact, the chemical truck exploded its tire and tilted the vehicle. Inside the truck, the plastic cans containing chemicals burst, causing a serious fire.

Immediately, the fire police, fire fighting, medical forces ... quickly deployed to put out the fire and rescue people. However, the means of transport were stuck, leading to complete isolation, so rescue vehicles, fire fighting vehicles, ambulances had many difficulties accessing the scene.

After the situations are presented, the firefighting and search and rescue forces are deployed in three phases. In phase 1, the on-site firefighting force (the force responsible for protecting and ensuring security and order in the festival event area) carries out initial evacuation, rescue, and firefighting instructions, and calls to report incidents, accidents, and requests for rescue according to regulations. Promptly organize first aid, check the number of people still trapped inside, and move assets to a safe place.

In phase 2, the fire fighting and search and rescue forces and vehicles of the City Police arrive at the scene of the incident or accident, organize fire fighting and search and rescue, rescue and first aid and transfer of casualties. The City Police leader is the fire fighting commander and organizes fire fighting and rescue activities according to regulations.

In phase 3, the City Police advise the Chairman of the City People's Committee to mobilize forces, means and assets of agencies, organizations, households and individuals within their management scope and the military forces stationed in the locality to participate in fire fighting, rescue and relief.

This is the main stage, fully mobilizing forces and preparing necessary conditions to organize evacuation, search and rescue, and fire fighting.

Lieutenant General Le Hong Nam, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, said that the nature of this exercise is urgent and important, taking place at a time when Ho Chi Minh City is about to host major events and festivals. In particular, in 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will celebrate the important event of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) with many programs, festivals, culture, arts, and sports .

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tphcm-hon-7000-nguoi-dien-tap-ung-pho-tinh-huong-giam-dap-khi-chay-no-o-pho-nguyen-hue-192250111124001814.htm