These are iron cages and steel frames surrounding the balcony behind that people have installed to "anti-theft" but in reality, they are "expanding the area". Not only in Ho Chi Minh City, in Hanoi and many large cities, the image of "tiger cages" in old apartment buildings and low-rise apartments has become familiar. At first, it seemed like a flexible solution for people, but in fact, they were timing bombs when a fire broke out.
After the recent fire at Doc Lap residence in Ho Chi Minh City, the ward government has urgently mobilized and requested people to dismantle the encroached works and restore them to their original state. It is worth mentioning that only when a tragedy occurs, do people want to take them away. Previously, the authorities have repeatedly launched attacks to handle the situation but encountered opposition and delays with the reasons of "safe", "lack of space", and "difficulty in preventing theft".
In fact, the mentality of expanding to take advantage of the area in a crowded urban area with cramped land is understandable. But when personal amenities threaten collective safety, even the lives of oneself and one's neighbors, it is a wrong choice. No asset is worth life. In the above fire, due to the lack of an escape route, the exit was blocked by fire, many people were trapped inside because they could not break the "tiger cages" - which were solidly welded by themselves to "protect their families".
In addition, encroachment on corridors, stairs, and common yards is also the reason why firefighters are obstructed from approaching the scene. When a fire occurs, time is a vital factor, just a few minutes of delay can take away a life.
It is necessary to recognize that "tiger cages" are the product of an urbanization period without control, with poor enforcement of the law and low public awareness. However, it is impossible to let these dangerous "heritages" continue to exist in the context that we are moving towards a civilized, safe, and livable urban model.
The dismantling of "tiger cages" cannot stop at the call or movement after each fire. It needs a synchronous roadmap: From strict legal regulations, strong enough sanctions, to technical support mechanisms for people to dismantle and above all, a propaganda campaign to change awareness - from the habit of "pre-efficient, post-efficient care" to prioritizing safety and prevention from the root.
On the government's side, in addition to voluntary mobilization, there should be enforcement measures according to regulations if people deliberately delay. At the same time, it is possible to study to support the cost of demolition or arrange a community storage space (common warehouse, ground floor...) so that people do not have to pack clothes on the balcony.
New apartment buildings need to absolutely eliminate the possibility of forming "tiger cages" with modern designs: The balcony does not have a steel frame installation point, a synchronous fire alarm - fire fighting system, clear escape route and communication right from the handover of the house.
A civilized city is not only measured by high, sparkling buildings but also in its ability to protect people from the tragic deaths that can be prevented. Cleaning up the "tiger cages" - removing death traps in urban areas - is not only a necessary task, but a must be done immediately, if we do not want more dark nights like the fire at Doc Lap residence to repeat.
