Many gas stations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, most of which are located among crowded residential areas, do not meet safety regulations.

>> Huge fire hits gasoline station in Hanoi, 10 injured The investigation took place a day after a powerful fire occurred at Gas Station 2B on Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi, injuring 10 firefighters and causing total damage worth VND6-7 billion (US$336,500) on June 3. According to statistics of concerned agencies in Hanoi and HCMC, many gas stations have been operating within residential areas for decades. In Hanoi, there are as many as three petrol stations on a 1.5km long stretch of road from the intersection of Lang Ha – Giang Vo to 223 Kham Thien. The filling station at 179 De La Thanh is situated on a block that includes many mechanical factories that use welding or cutting machines that give off electric sparks. When contacted by Tuoi Tre, a resident living 50 meters from the station, said, “After the terrible fire at the station on Tran Hung Dao Street, we are very worried about the safety of our families.” In Hoan Kiem District, there are 11 gas stations, including Station 2B, that are located dangerously close to residential areas. “Under prevailing regulations, the safety distance between a filling station and public areas around it must be 50 meters. The station must be far from high voltage lines at an elevation that is 1.5 times the height of the pillar of that line. It is also required to be situated 100 meters from areas prone to fire or explosions,” said an official at the Hoan Kiem District Fire Prevention and Control. However, most of the gas stations in the district do not meet these regulations at all, the official said. Out of the 489 gas stations inspected earlier this year, 117 violated safety regulations, said Major General Nguyen Duc Nghi, director of the Hanoi Fire Prevention and Control and Rescue and Salvage Department. In the first five months of this year, 28 stations have been fined more than VND1 billion ($48,000) for their infringements, Nghi said.Majority of 460 stations near residential areas There are about 490 gas stations in Ho Chi Minh City, and most of them are situated in residential areas, posing a threat to local residents. One of them is a gas station owned by Binh Long Private Enterprise in Tan Phu District. This station, which was built under ahigh voltage line, has been fined many times for safety violations and was recently suspended. However, residents are still fearful about potential risks from it. In the city’s downtown of District 1, many gas stations are located near high-rises, schools and residential quarters. One of them, for example, is located at the intersection of Le Thi Rieng and Bui Thi Xuan streets. The station, which is opposite the Ben Thanh Pre-school, is owned by the Saigon Fuel Joint Stock Company. Nam Tran, a woman who lives at 184 Le Thi Rieng, said, “I once heard that this station would be relocated for safety reasons, but it is still there. I am very worried…”Handling “The handling of violating gas stations in Hanoi is not easy at all, since so many stations commit violations that if all of them are suspended, it would seriously affect the fuel supply in the city,” Major General Nguyen Duc Nghi said. However, after the violent fire at Station 2B, the department will coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to inspect all stations, and any that does not meet safety regulations must be relocated, Nghi said. In HCMC, on March 6, 2007 the city People’s Committee issued a decision under which 61 petrol and oil stations were shut down  and 113 stations were allowed to operate temporarily from 2007-2013. Also under the decision, 338 other stations were to be upgraded or relocated if they want to continue operating after 2010. However, the decision was not applied in practice for a number of reasons, primarily that if so many stations were removed, this would affect the city’s fuel supply and cause inconvenience to consumers. Therefore, on May 9, 2012, the people’s Committee issued Decision 17 on “repairing, upgrading or rebuilding gas stations that operated before March 16, 2007.” Under the decision, many stations are allowed to be repaired or upgraded for continuous operation, instead of being relocated.  And only a small number of stations have been forced to be relocated.