Hanoi: At least 14 people were killed and three others injured in a fire that broke out in a small apartment building in central Hanoi on Friday morning.
“The fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. (1730 GMT Thursday). The fire was big and there were several explosions,” the Vietnam News Agency said.
Pictures of the incident on Friday morning showed the fire in the courtyard of the building and the pitch black interior on the first floor.
WNA told local officials at 6:20 a.m. that at least 14 people were dead and three others were injured.
It is not known how many people were in the apartment at the time of the fire. The fire was extinguished after an hour.
This building is located in a two meter wide park and has 12 rooms for rent.
The first floor is said to be used for selling and repairing electric bicycles.
A neighbor, who did not want to be named, told AFP he heard “an explosion like a fire extinguisher”.
“I thought there was a fight or something banging on the window. I ran and saw the fire.
“Many neighbors ran through other neighbors’ houses and ran out of the park. We are very scared.”
He said he saved the son-in-law and grandson of the owner of the building from the fire.
Rescue worker Pham Quoc told state website Viet VNExpress that no one was inside the building.
“It’s very hot in there.”
Firefighters are doing their best to find survivors. They rescued an old woman and then came out four more people. We checked carefully and there was no one else inside. “
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
The fire was Vietnam’s deadliest in decades after 56 people died in a Hanoi apartment building last September.
At least three children were among the dead.
The country has experienced several deadly fires in recent years, mostly at amusement parks.
A year ago, 32 people died and 17 were injured in a fire at a karaoke bar near a shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City. The owner was later arrested for violating fire prevention regulations.
After that, the Prime Minister ordered an inspection of all high-risk areas.
Fire safety devices and instructions have been installed in many streets and buildings in the city.
Large apartment fire in central Hanoi kills 14 people
