HANOI — Six people went on trial Thursday over a huge fire that tore through a karaoke bar in Vietnam two years ago, killing 32 people, state media said.
The blaze broke out in a province close to business hub Ho Chi Minh City and led to the closure of thousands of karaoke bars nationwide for failing to meet fire regulations.
The bar owner, a contractor involved in its construction and four police officers are accused of violating fire prevention regulations, state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said, citing the indictment.
They also face charges of “failure to take responsibility… leading to serious consequences,” the report added.
Flames engulfed the second floor of the 30-room An Phu karaoke building in Binh Duong in September 2022, trapping customers and staff as dense smoke filled the staircase and blocked the emergency exit.
Many crowded onto a balcony to escape the flames, which spread quickly through the wooden interior, while others were forced to jump from the building.
A total of 32 people died in the inferno, 17 men and 15 women.
