Old apartment building in Hanoi poses a risk of fire and explosion in the hot summer

June 24 was recorded as one of the hottest days since the beginning of the year. In the context of prolonged extreme weather, the risk of fires and explosions in old apartment buildings in Hanoi becomes even more worrying.

According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Construction, the whole city currently has more than 3,000 projects put into use before 2001 that must be reviewed and overcome shortcomings in fire prevention and fighting (PCCC). Although the handling roadmap has been built and solutions have been gradually implemented, thoroughly overcoming inadequacies in PCCC not only requires the involvement of functional agencies but also requires a change in awareness from people and project management units.

In many old apartment buildings such as Mai Dich, Trung Tu, O Cho Dua, Nghia Tan, Kim Lien, Phuong Lien... the situation of intertwined electric wires, extended balconies, enclosed by iron frames is still common. Items erected to expand living areas but unintentionally become "iron cages", hindering escape when fires occur.

In Phu Dien ward, there are currently 33 schools, old apartment buildings and factories that do not meet fire prevention and fighting requirements. Apartment building T262 on Cau Dien street, built in 1998, is a typical example. The system of electrical wires and telecommunication cables is tangled around the building, the corridor is small and narrow, just enough for two people to avoid each other, while motorbikes are parked close together at the foot of the stairs, posing a high risk of fire and explosion.

Representatives of the Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Team No. 11 (Hanoi City Police) said that most of the old apartment buildings in the area do not meet the requirements for fire resistance, fire spread prevention, smoke condensation prevention and escape. Many projects still lack fire alarm systems, automatic fire fighting systems, fire hydrants, emergency lights, escape guidance lights and rudimentary demolition tools.

According to Phu Dien Ward People's Committee, the locality has developed a roadmap to overcome fire prevention and fighting shortcomings in 5 phases. By 2030, 100% of establishments under mandatory management must complete the installation of fire prevention and fighting equipment according to regulations.

Not only in Phu Dien, many other localities are also promoting the remediation of fire prevention and fighting violations. O Cho Dua ward sets a goal to relocate dangerous chemical and petroleum storage warehouses out of residential areas. In Giang Vo ward, 179 establishments have been required to develop roadmaps to overcome existing problems.

Mr. Do Van Khanh, a resident of Kim Lien collective housing area, said that many fire prevention and fighting equipment here are still lacking or have deteriorated. Automatic fire alarm systems, fire hydrants, and escape lights have not been fully equipped; some portable fire extinguishers have expired or have not been periodically checked.

Worryingly, many restaurants, eateries, factories and warehouses of flammable goods still exist interspersed in residential areas. Safety distance is not guaranteed, while fire prevention and fighting equipment is old, outdated, and even lacks minimum fire fighting equipment.

The biggest difficulty currently lies not in identifying the risk but in the recovery process. Current fire prevention and fighting standards require synchronization between many technical items, while the renovation of old buildings faces many obstacles due to narrow ground, degraded structure and limited funding.

Hanoi is strengthening the handling of existing fire prevention and fighting violations that were put into use before 2001 according to Resolution No. 79/2025/NQ-HĐND of the City People's Council. Since the beginning of 2026, many localities have implemented reviews, developed plans and organized remediation according to specific roadmaps to gradually ensure safety for people.

Hanoi Police recommends that people and businesses strengthen inspection of electrical systems and equip fire prevention and fighting equipment during the hot season. People should not arbitrarily plug in electricity; do not charge electric vehicles, batteries and electronic devices overnight or when there is no supervisor; and turn off unnecessary electrical appliances before going to bed or leaving home to reduce the risk of fire and explosion.

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