In recent days, parking lots under construction in Vietnam have banned charging electric vehicles inside over fears they could cause fires, following rumors that this type of motorcycle battery caused or worsened a fire that killed 56 people in Hanoi. last week.

“Many owners of apartments, hotels and commercial buildings It is forbidden to charge electric cars in the basement or underground parking and have even canceled leases if tenants have electric motorcycles,” the newspaper reported. VnExpress.

Although the authorities have not yet provided an official version of what happened. What caused the devastating fire in a nine-story building Vietnamese capital, rumors circulating on the networks focused specifically on these machines.

“In order to comply with fire safety standards and ensure the safety of the building, the administration informs residents that “Electric vehicle charging pads are no longer in use,” — reads an advertisement for an apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the most populous city.

“We were not offered an alternative other than to take the batteries home, but Not all models have removable batteries. They do not offer any solution for drivers who want to contribute to a cleaner environment,” a neighbor of the house complained to EFE.

Trang, a Hanoi resident, told the newspaper VnExpress who feel discriminated against, “as if having an electric car is a sin”. “People began to worry and avoid these vehicles just like they did with people infected with Covid-19 when the pandemic began,” he criticized.

Although authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, the fact that it started in the parking lot and spread throughout the building, as well as expert statements in the press that lithium batteries could cause the fire to spread at a faster rate. They have created a certain psychosis regarding these vehicles.

The owner of the building, 44-year-old Nghiem Quang Minh, has been detained since Wednesday. waiting for confirmation whether it complies with the rules Fire safety.

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Images of victims and the desolate state of the building’s surroundings and the ground-floor parking lot with dozens of burnt-out motorcycles have revived debate in Vietnam over fire safety in large, densely populated cities, where Buildings are often built without much urban planning.

(EFE)