In Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, a devastating fire at an apartment block has claimed the lives of at least 30 people, including children, as reported by local media on Wednesday. The information was obtained from the city’s police. The fire erupted during the night in a nine-storey building that housed approximately 150 residents, according to the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA). The blaze was contained by 2 a.m. (1900 GMT). The exact number of victims is yet to be confirmed by Hanoi police, who declined to provide further details upon contact with Reuters.
State-run media outlets Dan Tri and Saigon Giai Phong, citing Hanoi police, reported that the death toll stood at 30. However, Reuters was unable to independently verify these reports. Television footage displayed firefighters equipped with hoses and ladders working at the scene during the night, while thick, dark smoke billowed from the building during the day. The police have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
According to state media, several victims who managed to escape the fire by jumping from their windows sustained multiple injuries and were admitted to local hospitals. Vu Hoang Phuong from Hanoi Medical University Hospital provided this information. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the site of the fire and urged the completion of anti-fire regulations for small-sized apartment buildings and densely populated residential areas, as stated by a government release.