On the evening of 22/8, Mai Viet Trieu, chairman of the Thanh Tung Commune People's Committee, said authorities are assessing the damage and investigating the fire that destroyed 56 stalls in Thanh Tung Market in Cai Ngay Hamlet.
The suspect, Nguyen Van Phuc, suffered burns and smoke inhalation and is being treated under strict supervision by Ca Mau provincial police.
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The fire started in Nguyen Van Phuc's house and then spread to the market, destroying 56 stalls. Photo: Trinh Hai |
The fire started in Nguyen Van Phuc's house and then spread to the market, destroying 56 stalls. Photo: Trinh Hai
Preliminary investigations reveal Phuc lived with a 52-year-old woman as partners in a rented stall at Thanh Tung Market. Phuc worked as a ferryman, while his partner was a market vendor. The couple had a history of arguments fueled by jealousy. Earlier that day, Phuc attacked his partner with a knife.
Nguyen Thi Ai, a vendor who lost 11 stalls in the fire, said the injured woman fled the house and was taken to the hospital by Ai and her nephew. On the way, the victim warned them, "Watch out, he (Phuc) will burn down the market." "My husband ran over to try to stop him, but the house was already engulfed in flames," Ai said.
Duong Van Dong, who lived across from Phuc, witnessed him releasing gas from a canister throughout the house before igniting it with a lighter. Dong and others attempted to extinguish the fire with mini fire extinguishers, but the fire spread too quickly. Panicked, they fled the scene.
The fire rapidly spread to adjacent stalls, most of which were made of wood and corrugated iron. Strong winds further fueled the flames, creating a plume of smoke dozens of meters high. Within 30 minutes, the fire had consumed most of the market, forcing people to abandon their belongings and flee.
Hundreds of firefighters were deployed, but the fire's location near the river hampered access. Firefighting boats and civilian vessels attempted to control the blaze from the river.
The incident is under investigation.
An Minh
