Ho Chi Minh City has 42,200 'mini apartment' rental houses

The city has about 42,200 "mini apartment" style rental houses, most of which are equipped with fire protection systems but still pose many risks, according to a representative of Ho Chi Minh City Police.

The information was given by Lieutenant Colonel Le Manh Ha, Deputy Head of Staff, Ho Chi Minh City Police, at a press conference on the economic and social situation on the afternoon of September 14.

According to Mr. Ha, current regulations do not have the concept of mini apartments. This type is similar to the boarding house model built with two or more floors, with many apartments, common walkways, stairs and infrastructure systems for households.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Manh Ha answers questions at the press conference on the afternoon of September 14. Photo: Thanh Nhan — Lieutenant Colonel Le Manh Ha answers questions at the press conference on the afternoon of September 14. Photo: *Thanh Nhan*

Most of the above boarding houses are equipped with fire prevention and fighting systems, but they pose a risk of fire and explosion due to improper use of electrical equipment. The apartments are not equipped with fire prevention and fighting systems or have them but they have not been checked and maintained periodically; there is no force trained in fire prevention and fighting on duty regularly; and the residents have not been equipped with fire prevention and fighting skills.

Lieutenant Colonel Ha assessed that the most dangerous are high-rise rental buildings with parking garages that are not designed and installed with fire prevention and firefighting systems and safety solutions, which are prone to fires. If a fire starts in the parking garage, it will cause especially serious damage.

Currently, following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Public Security , and the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the City Police have deployed a plan to conduct a general inspection and review of crowded boarding houses. The police will resolutely handle violations of fire prevention and fighting regulations at these establishments. "This has been done regularly, and now the general inspection and review have been strengthened," said Mr. Ha.

At the press conference, Mr. Tong Duc Tien, Head of Construction Permit Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, said that if the housing for workers and laborers is small in scale, with a volume of 5,000 m3 (determined by area x height), it will not be subject to fire prevention and fighting approval. However, the investor must comply with fire prevention and fighting standards in construction, especially corridors and emergency exits.

In cases where fire prevention and fighting approval is required, the construction licensing authority must compare the approved design and the construction design to ensure fire prevention and fighting.

Late on September 12, a fire broke out in a 10-story mini apartment building on Khuong Ha Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi , killing 56 people. The owner of the apartment building was prosecuted and detained for 4 months for violating fire prevention and fighting regulations under Article 313 of the Penal Code.

Le Tuyet

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