More than 130 arrested in central Vietnam for lighting firecrackers

Police in Ky Anh town, 340 km south of Hanoi, said that on the morning of February 5, the first day of the Lunar New Year, many mobile patrol teams had been formed, and they took in 50 people for using fireworks.

"The problem with fireworks decreased significantly this year compared to last year; there were no bombing incidents or injuries caused by firecrackers, but there were still many violators," head of the Ky Anh town police, said.

In Nghi Xuan District in Ha Tinh, dozens of officers patrolled 19 communes and towns and caught 45 people red-handed while burning firecrackers on and after New Year's Eve.

However, authorities said it was difficult for the officers to apprehend violators because they often set off the firecrackers and fled.

The arrested people have been released, but will have to pay fines after Tet, the Lunar New Year holiday. 

People also set off fireworks in Huong Son District adjacent to the Cau Treo international border gate, where they are freely available from across the border.

"On New Year's Eve the police discovered 38 people [in Huong Son District] setting off firecrackers, and they will be subject to fines for the illegal possession and use of firecrackers," a police officer said.

A total of 133 offenders were caught in Ha Tinh Province alone this week.

In 1994 when the use of fireworks was rampant, causing many deaths and injuries and annual losses of tens of billions of dong (10 billion dong = $430,000), the government passed a law prohibiting the production, distribution and use of firecrackers and explosive chemicals.