17 Dead in Vietnam Shoe Factory Fire

Posted July 30th, 2011 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Vietnamese authorities said Saturday a fire at a shoe factory in the northern port city of Haiphong killed 17 people and seriously injured 21 others.

Police said the fire broke out Friday afternoon by welding sparks. The building had only one exit and the fire spread so fast that many workers were not able to escape.

Officials said 13 people died of burns and smoke inhalation at the scene and four other badly-burned victims died at a hospital Saturday morning.

Vietnamese media said police had arrested six people in the incident, including the Vietnamese owner of the factory and her Chinese husband.