A national-level fire-fighting and rescue practice took place at a cluster of high-rise buildings comprising the Vinpearl Condotel Riverfront Da Nang, the Vincom Ngo Quyen Trade Centre, and the luxury apartment AZURA on Wednesday.
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| Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc (right) speaking at the opening ceremony for the event |
Also present at the event were Major General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, and Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Dang Viet Dung.
The exercise saw the participation of over 1,000 officers and men from the Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue, the Air Force Division 372, the Military Zone 5, the Naval Region 3 High Command, along with representatives from the Ministry of Defence, and the departments of public security in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces.
Also, more than 500 employees and firefighters from the Vinpearl Condotel Riverfront Da Nang, the Vincom Ngo Quyen Trade Centre, and the luxury apartment AZURA attended the practice.
In addition, a total of 52 fire and rescue engines, 2 firefighting boats, 2 helicopters, and other modern vehicles and equipment were used during the exercise.
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| Vice Chairman Dung (in white) shaking hands with participating firefighters |
In his remarks at the event, Major General Ngoc highlighted the importance of the fire-fighting and rescue practice in evaluating coordination capacity between police forces and other relevant units in handling massive fires and explosions, as well as testing the effectiveness of firefighting equipment, and means of communication in some unexpected incidents.
Mr Ngoc took the opportunity to urge departments, agencies and local residents to uphold their responsibilities for fire prevention and fighting, and rescue activities, as well as to strictly obey the national regulations about fire prevention and fighting work in order to minimise the number of massive fire and explosion incidents, and the human and property losses.
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| A large fire broke out after an explosion in the Han River Restaurant on the 3rd floor of the Vinpearl Condotel Riverfront Da Nang due to a gas leak |
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| Injured victims were evacuated from the condotel. |
In a hypothetical situation, a large fire broke out after an explosion in a restaurant on the 3rd floor of the Vinpearl Condotel Riverfront Da Nang due to a gas leak.
As soon as the incident was discovered, the building’s staff members quickly turned on an alarm system, as well as alerted the firefighter force to the incident.
Immediately, people were evacuated from the building, and initial firefighting work was carried out. However, the explosion and fire wrecked the restaurant and some areas on the 2nd floor of the building, affecting around 300 people in nearby areas.
Also, customers and staff members were evacuated from the Vincom Ngo Quyen Trade Centre. Suddenly, another fire and explosion occurred in a restaurant on the 4th floor of the centre. The main reason was thought that restaurant chefs there did not turn off gas stoves due to panic.
At the luxury apartment AZURA, most of residents and staffs were assisted the escape, but some residents living on the 32nd and 33rd floors of the apartment ran to the roof terrace to shout for help.
Due to the complicated situation, the Ministry of Public Security asked its affiliated units, and departments of public security in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces, to send more forces and vehicles to help Da Nang. Besides, helicopters under the management of the Ministry of Defence were used to help victims on the 33rd floor of the AZURA apartment.
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| Rosenbauer Panther, a US$ 1 million super fire engine from Da Nang International Airport, at the rehearsal. |
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| Firefighters making every effort to rescue people trapped in floors of the building |
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| Rescue forces rescuing trapped people … |
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| … by cloth tubes and ropes |
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| Air mattresses were used to save people |
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| A trapped person was brought to the ground with a cloth tube |
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| Another person trapped on the roof terrace of the Vincom Ngo Quyen Trade Centre safely brought to the ground by a ladder truck |
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| A helicopter in the practice |
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| Firefighters spraying water to stamp out fire |
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| The national-scale fire-fighting and rescue practice took place successfully and safely |
In his closing speech at the event, Vice Chairman Dung remarked this year’s fire-fighting and rescue practice was the largest of its kind in Da Nang. The event was organised successfully and safely.
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| Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc (3rd, right) presenting Certificates of Merit to outstanding individuals and groups during the practice |
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| Vice Chairman Dung (centre) giving Certificates of Merit to outstanding individuals and groups during the practice |
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