The blaze broke out at the Asia Dragon Shopping Centre in Cheb city in November 2017, burning to the ground 40 stalls run by 12 Vietnamese families. Damage was calculated to reach CZK 40 million (USD 1.76 million). The 20-year-old shopping center hosts 300 stalls operated by 200 businesses, of whom 98 percent are Vietnamese expatriates.

leftcenterrightdel
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan  presents gifts to the victims of the market fire in Cheb city last year.

Ambassador Tuan met with the 12 families and inquired their lives after the fire.

He requested the Asia Dragon board of directors and head of the association of Vietnamese people in Cheb to support the victims, helping them to have a warm Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration and soon repair the burned section of the center.

Doan Thach Cuong, deputy head of the association of Vietnamese people in Cheb and deputy general director of Asia Dragon, said the center will not hold a grand Tet celebration as usual this year but try its best to assist the victims.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Cuong said Asia Dragon is working with the local administration to quickly rebuild the 40 stalls with expectation that these families can resume their business by the end of April or in early May.

Donations for the victims have to date exceeded CKZ 5 million (USD 220,000), he said, adding that the sum will be distributed to the affected families.

Source: VNA