TMCnet News
Forest fires prompt call for ban on open flaming sky lanternsHanoi, Feb 27, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Public Security have suggested that the Prime Minister consider a ban on sky lanterns with open flames. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hua Duc Nhi, many forest fires have been caused by sky lanterns. Since the beginning of the year, seven forest fires in Quang Ninh province and four in Hai Phong City has been caused by burning sky-lanterns. Before that, the Ministry of Public Securitys Fire Department also proposed banning the use of sky lanterns nationwide. The Hanoi Department of Fire Prevention and Control has already asked the municipal Peoples Committee to ban the production, selling, transporting and burning of any sky lanterns in the city. According to this department, since the end of January, there have been eight fires in workshops, electrical stations and houses across the city due to the launching of sky lanterns. |