On January 11, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee chaired and coordinated with professional and technical units under the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense to organize an unprecedented large-scale fire and rescue emergency response drill, mobilizing more than 7,000 people and 126 fire fighting vehicles.
The drill was conducted in the city center, including Nguyen Hue walking street, Bach Dang wharf park and wharf area No. 3 on the Saigon River.
The hypothetical situation is that at 9:00 p.m. on X month Y, 2025, during the fireworks display at Thu Thiem Square and the ABC festival on Nguyen Hue walking street, a serious fire and explosion occurred at the main outdoor stage due to an electrical short circuit.
The fire quickly spread, causing gas cylinders used for stage effects (gas, CO2, liquid nitrogen, etc.) to explode, leading to the collapse of the building.
At the same time, millions of people were gathering on the banks of the Saigon River and nearby streets to watch the fireworks. The explosion and collapse of the stage caused chaos, with thousands of people panicking and trying to escape, leading to jostling, pushing and trampling, causing hundreds of casualties.
Not stopping there, at the intersection of Ton Duc Thang Street, a serious traffic accident occurred between two cars and a chemical truck. The accident deformed the vehicles, trapping 4 people inside. Fuel leakage from the vehicle met the heat source and caused a fire, while the strong collision caused the chemical truck to have a blown tire, tilt the vehicle, and break the plastic cans containing chemicals, creating a serious risk of fire and pollution.
Lieutenant General Le Hong Nam - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police - emphasized the urgency and importance of the exercise, especially in the context of many major events and festivals taking place in Ho Chi Minh City, especially the event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).
