Many Vietnamese traders’ stores affected in Poland shopping centre fire

A fire breaks out at the shopping centre on Marywilska street, Warsaw, Poland on May 12 morning. (Photo: deccanherald.com)

Prague – Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Ha Hoang Hai said on May 12 that a fire had broken out at the shopping centre on Marywilska street, Warsaw, Poland, where many Vietnamese run stalls, on early the day, and there was no casualty, but almost all property were destroyed, according to initial reports.

The shopping centre - a large retail trade centre in Poland with about 1,400 stores, of which one third are run by Vietnamese people, the ambassador added.

The fire broke out in the early morning of May 12. About 10 minutes after the fire alarm rang, firefighters arrived at the scence. However, due to the large amount of goods, including apparels, plus dry weather, the fire spread quickly. Almost the entire shopping centre was destroyed by fire, he further said.

As soon as getting information about the fire, the Vietnamese Embassy sent a working group to the scene, and coordinated with the Vietnamese Association in Poland to grasp the situation and promptly carry out citizen protection.

The embassy has publicised citizen protection hotline numbers to receive information from overseas Vietnamese, while standing ready to support them in working with local authorities and the centre’s management board, fire fighters and insurance companies to minimise the consequences of the fire.

For those who lost their personal papers in the fire, the embassy is ready to provide maximum support so that they can have new paper re-granted quickly.

Besides, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the embassy to continue working with local competent agencies to find optimal solutions to ensure the rights and benefits of the people affected by the fire, Hai said.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Poland Tran Tuan Anh said that his association is actively coordinating with the embassy to obtain information, visit people whose stalls were damaged in the fire and call for donations to support them.