A SINGAPOREAN woman is believed to have been one of four people killed yesterday in a fireworks explosion during preparations for Hanoi's millennium celebrations, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
The force of the explosion was so great that it sent metal debris flying and shattered windows at the Vietnam Sport Hospital and apartment blocks about 200m from the blast site, Agence France-Press reported.
The dead included three foreigners, as well as one Vietnamese. The MFA said it was trying to find out if more Singaporeans were among the fatalities.
'An explosion occurred in the vicinity of the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi,' said the MFA. 'The Singapore Embassy in Hanoi is closely monitoring the situation and is in close contact with the local authorities.
'Local authorities have informed the Embassy that a Singaporean woman could be one of four fatalities. The Embassy is working to verify this, and to ascertain if any other Singaporeans are affected.'
The Singapore company hired to provide the fireworks, Glorious Singapore, had sent a 26-man team of full-timers and freelancers last month to Hanoi for the project.
