Insurers to pay $106,800 in compensation for Hanoi fire victims

Four insurance companies have reported they will pay an estimated VND2.72 billion ($106,855) in compensation for the six dead victims of a rental house fire in Hanoi that broke out in the early hours of last Friday.

The companies will discuss payment dates with the victims’ families, according to the Insurance Supervisory Authority under the Ministry of Finance.

Two of the victims were insured by Manulife Vietnam. Their families will receive VND1 billion ($39,285) each.

Sun Life is completing compensation procedures for another victim with an estimated VND500 million.

In addition, three non-life insurance firms will pay a total of VND220 million ($8,642) in compensation.

The fire started at 3 a.m. on Friday down a deep ally, 200 meters from 119 Trung Kinh street, Cau Giay district, and killed 14 people and injured three. Four others were rescued.

The fire was brought under control in less than an hour, but the cost of the damage remains unknown.

The properties, a two-floor house and a three-floor house for rent, were home to seven members of the landlord's family and 17 tenants in 10 rooms.

The fire started in the parking area, witnesses said. Police are investigating the cause of the incident.

Last September, a fire at a mini apartment building in densely-populated Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, killed 56 people and injured 37 others. The landlord was detained and a large number of local officials were disciplined.