Explosions ripped through a chemical company in District 12, HCM City at midday June 17, damaging a dozen nearby houses and injuring 21 workers.

First one, and then another explosion started a fire that gutted the warehouse of the Tan Tan Thanh Company. Flames from burning drums A vessel of chemical burnt and shot flames into a nearby garment mill, consuming it, an adjacent restaurant, and other small enterprises and houses. Workers fled in confusion.

The fire was so hot that people in houses hundreds of meters far from the fire had to evacuate the area. After the two big explosions, many smaller explosions were recorded. The fire quickly covered the entire 3000 square meter company compound. Twenty-one workers at the chemical company were injured and brought to hospitals.

Eight fire trucks and nearly 100 firemen rushed to the site. The fire was stamped out at 1.30pm. One firefighter fainted because of chemical smoke inhalation.

Investigation of the cause of the fire is underway.

PV