Vietnam: Hanoi Apartment Fire Claims 14 Lives; Investigation Underway

An early morning fire in central Hanoi’s Cau Giay district in Vietnam tragically claimed the lives of 14 people and left three others injured, according to police reports. The blaze erupted around 12:30 am on Friday (1730 GMT Thursday), sending smoke and toxic gases billowing from the densely populated area known for its universities.

Rescue teams broke through a locked external gate and smashed a window to save seven individuals trapped inside. Witnesses reported hearing explosions similar to firecrackers and the desperate screams of those inside.

“The fire grew fiercely, destroying numerous motorbikes, electric bicycles, and bicycles in the courtyard,” stated Hanoi police. “By 1:26 am, the fire was fully extinguished. Rescue forces discovered 14 people dead.”

Three survivors are currently receiving emergency treatment at a hospital. The fire left the building, which had a corrugated metal roof, reduced to a charred shell. Blackened belongings and bike parts were scattered across the open-to-the-sky complex.

Authorities are still uncertain about the number of people inside when the fire started. The complex consisted of two interconnected blocks, one with two storeys and the other with three, housing 12 rental rooms. The courtyard was used for selling and repairing electric bicycles.

A neighbour, who chose to remain anonymous, described hearing an explosion and initially thinking it was a fight or something striking a window. “I ran down and saw the fire. Many neighbours had already fled through other houses. We were terrified,” she told AFP.

Another resident, Ngo Thi Thuy, recounted seeing bright flames through the building’s roof cracks. “Fire particles were flying, and the smoke was so thick it obscured everything,” Thuy, 40, told VNExpress. “There were explosions and screams from inside the burning building and surrounding houses.”

She and other neighbours tried to douse the flames with buckets of water, but the smoke only intensified. The building’s landlord managed to rescue his daughter-in-law and grandchild from the blaze.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which is the latest in a series of deadly blazes in Vietnam. Last September, a fire in a Hanoi apartment block resulted in the deaths of 56 people, including three children, making it the deadliest fire in Vietnam in two decades.

Vietnam has experienced several other fatal fires in recent years, particularly at entertainment venues. A year ago, a fire at a karaoke bar near Ho Chi Minh City killed 32 people and injured 17, leading to the owner’s arrest for breaching fire prevention regulations. Following that incident, the prime minister ordered inspections of all high-risk venues, and fire safety equipment and instructions have since been installed across many streets and buildings in the city.