Fireworks for Hanoi’s birthday bash explode, 1 reportedly killed

Fireworks explode in Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam — A Vietnamese official says fireworks intended for Hanoi’s 1,000th birthday celebration have exploded prematurely, and state-controlled media have reported at least one death.

A local government official says the blast occurred just before noon Wednesday near My Dinh stadium, one of 29 sites in the capital where fireworks were planned for Sunday’s anniversary. The official declined to give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Police declined to comment on the explosion, and reports by several online Vietnamese newspapers were abruptly removed after being posted.

The official had no information on causalities, but Thanh Nien newspaper said in an online report that at least one person was killed.

Witnesses say the blast shook buildings and shattered windows.