On August 12, 2026, the People's Court of Hưng Yên province held a first-instance trial for six defendants involved in a tragic fire incident that occurred in a workshop located in Thôn Ao, Minh Hải commune (now Lạc Đạo commune), which led to the deaths of eight individuals.

Among the defendants, three were former leaders of Minh Hải commune: Lê Quang Đào, Nguyễn Ngọc Côn, and Nguyễn Văn Chi. They were charged with 'serious negligence causing severe consequences' under Article 360 of the Penal Code. The other three defendants, Nguyễn Văn Hàng, Trịnh Đình Hiếu, and Đỗ Minh Hiến, faced charges for 'violating fire prevention and fighting regulations' as per Article 313 of the Penal Code.

The court sentenced Nguyễn Văn Hàng to 5 years and 6 months in prison, while Trịnh Đình Hiếu and Đỗ Minh Hiến received 5 years and 3 months. Lê Quang Đào was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months, and Nguyễn Ngọc Côn and Nguyễn Văn Chi were given 4 years and 3 months.

The incident traces back to June 15, 2024, when Trịnh Đình Hiếu rented out a workshop to Nguyễn Văn Hàng and Đỗ Minh Hiến for recycling nylon waste. The workshop, with a volume of nearly 12,860 cubic meters and an area of 3,000 square meters, was classified as a fire hazard but was allowed to operate without proper fire safety approvals.

On June 28, 2025, a fire broke out when a vehicle, while unloading materials, experienced an electrical short circuit. The fire rapidly spread due to the presence of flammable materials, resulting in eight fatalities and damages exceeding 5.22 billion VND.

During the investigation, the defendants admitted their wrongdoing and expressed remorse, which the court considered as mitigating factors in sentencing. The case highlights significant lapses in fire safety regulations and the responsibilities of local authorities in ensuring compliance.