A fire in a small apartment building in central Hanoi on Friday morning killed at least 14 people and injured three others, state media said.
“The fire broke out at about 12:30 in the morning. The fire was big, with many explosions,” Vietnam News Agency said.
Pictures from the scene on Friday morning showed burnt items in the yard and a dark first bedroom. By 6:20 a.m., at least 14 people had died and three were injured, according to VNA, according to local officials.
It is not known how many people were in the house when the fire broke out. It is tight after the hour.
The building is in two samples, with 12 houses for renting. It is reported that the first floor is used to sell and repair electric machines.
A neighbor, who declined to be named, told AFP he heard “an explosion like lightning”. “I thought there was a fight or something fell on the window. I ran to see the fire. “Many neighbors ran out of the way, running into other neighbors’ houses. We were like, we were scared.
He said that the owner of the house saved his daughter-in-law and grandson from the fire. Pham Quoc Viet, a rescue worker at the site, told state news site VNExpress that no one was left in the building.
He said: “It’s very hot in there.
“Firefighters tried their best to search for survivors. They rescued an old woman and brought out four others. We checked carefully, and there were no other people inside. ”
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. The fire comes after 56 people died in a house fire in Hanoi in September last year, Vietnam’s deadliest fire in 20 years.
At least three children were among the dead. The country has seen several other deadly fires in recent years, mostly in recreational areas.
A year ago, a fire broke out at a karaoke bar near a shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City, killing 32 people and injuring 17 others. The owner was arrested for charges about the law of fire.
The next day, prime minister ordered analysis of high places. Do not include the electronic systems and instructions in many streets and buildings across the city.
