One of the victims was the wife of Singaporean-owned Glorious Pte Ltd’s General Director, police said, adding that she was supervising 34 foreign experts as they attempted to set up equipment and devices for a firework display when the explosion occurred.
Two German experts also perished along with an official from the Ministry of National Defense's Z121 Factory, they said.
Four others were injured, one of whom was recently discharged from Vietnam Sports Hospital, according to the facility's chief administrator.
The two containers were carrying fireworks intended for a ceremony designed to celebrate Hanoi’s millennium anniversary.
In the meantime, the Hanoi International Manpower Supply and Trade Company Limited (Interserco), organizer of the display, said they will propose Z121, a firework producer, replace the lost fireworks.
They have also contacted their Chinese partner to import another batch, an Interserco representative said.
However, according the representative, it’s more likely that new fireworks would be provided by Z121, as it would take time to import them from China.
Initial information showed that the containers in question are among three imported from Italy, the US and China by Interserco.
In an interview with Vietnam News Agency, Hanoi Police Department Director Nguyen Duc Nhanh said the fire was caused by “mistakes” made during transportation.
Hanoi's committee of the Party Friday cancelled firework displays planned at 28 of the 29 spots for the city’s millennial anniversary this weekend, VnExpress reported.