SOUTH VIETNAM: SAIGON FIRES AFTER VIET CONG ROCKET ATTACK

Record ID: 355313

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: SAIGON FIRES AFTER VIET CONG ROCKET ATTACK
  • Date: 7th March 1969
  • Summary: DOCKS; BLAZING HOUSES; FIREMEN AND HOUSEHOLDERS FIGHTING FIRES; SMOULDERING WRECKAGE. Initials GEP/VS/BOB/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVACG3KW9435TJNO1HVH57EFDS4J
  • Story Text: FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE CROWDED DOCKLAND AREA OF SAIGON YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) AFTER RENEWED ROCKET ATTACKS ON THE CITY BY THE VIET CONG. TWENTY-TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED DURING THE ATTACK, THE FOURTH ON THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAPITAL SINCE THE VIET CONG LAUNCHED THEIR LATEST OFFENSIVE TWELVE DAYS AGO.

    THE AFFECTED HOUSES STOOD RIGHT ON THE WATERS EDGE, BUT THEY WERE BUILT SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND OF SUCH INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS THAT THE FIRES SPREAD RAPIDLY. DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF HOUSEHOLDERS AND FIREMEN, MOST OF THE BUILDINGS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE TIME THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT.

    FOUR 122MM ROCKETS LANDED IN THE DOCK AREA, DURING YESTERDAY'S BOMBARDMENT. THE DOCKS WERE THE TARGET OF LAST MONDAY'S VIET CONG ROCKET ATTACK, IN WHICH 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

    IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE ROCKETS WERE FIRED FROM PADDIES FIVE TO SEVEN MILES (8 - 11 KMS) EAST OF SAIGON.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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