A fire at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam killed at least 12 people and injured 40 others, with many in serious condition, state media reported on Wednesday (September 7), Reuters reports.
The fire broke out on Tuesday night (September 6) at the bar in Binh Duong province, an industrial production hub near Ho Chi Minh City, according to state media VTV.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Public Security and provincial authorities to investigate the cause of the fire. Chinh also ordered cities and provinces across the Southeast Asian country to step up safety standards at facilities prone to fire, including karaoke bars.
Karaoke is popular in Vietnam, but lax safety standards at venues have raised concerns. Three firefighters were killed in a fire at another karaoke bar in Hanoi last month.
