In a heartbreaking incident, a devastating fire tore through an apartment block in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, claiming the lives of dozens of people. The blaze, which ignited just before midnight on Tuesday, unfolded in a 10-storey building, with witnesses describing the horrific scene of screams from within and a young boy being thrown from the building in a desperate bid to escape the flames.
The fire initially started on the parking floor of the building, an area crowded with motorbikes, according to witnesses at the scene. Despite the heroic efforts of authorities, who managed to rescue approximately 70 people and transport 54 to hospitals, the toll was devastating, with “dozens of dead,” as reported by the official Vietnam News Agency. Among the victims, at least three were children, as detailed by Viettimes, an online state newspaper.
One resident, Hoa, who lives near the apartment block, recounted the tragic night.
“I heard a lot of shouts for help. We could not help them much,” she said. “The apartment is so closed with no escape route, impossible for the victims to get out,” she added, highlighting the harrowing circumstances faced by those trapped within.
Images captured by AFP photographers on the scene during the night depicted flames and smoke billowing from the barred balconies of the building. The fire was finally extinguished by Wednesday morning, but rescuers continued to face challenges in accessing the narrow alleyway where the apartment block is located.
The building’s design exacerbated the tragedy, with small balconies enclosed by iron bars and only a single exit, lacking an emergency ladder on the exterior. Approximately 150 people called this complex their home, authorities revealed.
Another witness, Huong, recounted the heart-wrenching moment when a small boy was thrown from a high floor in a desperate attempt to save him from the flames. “The smoke was everywhere. There was a little boy thrown from a high floor, I don’t know whether he survived or not, although people used a mattress to catch him,” she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang visited the scene on Wednesday morning, expressing condolences and offering support to the victims and their families.
Vietnam has tragically witnessed several deadly fires in recent years, often occurring at entertainment venues. Just a year ago, a fire in a three-storey karaoke bar in Ho Chi Minh City claimed the lives of 32 people and left at least 17 injured. The owner of the establishment faced charges related to fire prevention regulations.
In response to the tragedy, the prime minister ordered an inspection of all high-risk venues in the country. Prior to this, 13 people lost their lives in 2018 when an apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City caught fire, and another 13 perished in 2016 due to a fire in a Hanoi karaoke venue. Southeast Asia has been witness to frequent and deadly fires, often a result of lax safety standards, leading to devastating accidents like the one that unfolded in Hanoi.
