House block hearth in Vietnam’s Hanoi kills 14, state media says | Information

Fireplace reportedly began in courtyard between two buildings used to promote and restore electrical bicycles.

A fireplace at an condominium block in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi has killed not less than 14 folks and injured three others, state media has reported.

The hearth broke out at a five-storey constructing in central Hanoi’s Cau Giay district at round 12:30am on Friday (17:30 GMT on Thursday), in accordance with media reviews.

“The hearth was huge, with a number of explosions,” Vietnam Information Company (VNA) mentioned.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Safety mentioned firefighters rescued seven folks from the constructing after it turned engulfed in flames.

The hearth is believed to have began within the courtyard between two blocks used to promote and restore electrical bicycles, state-run VnExpress reported.

Photos from the condominium block confirmed charred belongings within the constructing’s courtyard and the fire-damaged inside of the primary ground.

Neighbour Ngo Thi Thuy, 40, was quoted telling VnExpress that she ran out onto the roof of her five-storey constructing after listening to folks screaming a few hearth.

“What hit me was one thing I had by no means seen earlier than. Fireplace was burning furiously via gaps of the corrugated iron roof, and the engulfing smoke made it exhausting to see something. There have been explosions together with screams for assist from the burning home in addition to close by homes,” Ngo was quoted as saying.

Authorities are investigating the reason for the blaze and have but to establish the victims.

Fires are a standard hazard in Vietnam’s densely packed city centres.

Between 2017 and 2022, 433 folks have been killed in some 17,000 home fires within the nation, most of them in city areas, in accordance with the Ministry of Public Safety.

In September, 56 folks, together with 4 youngsters, have been killed and dozens injured in a fireplace at an condominium block in Hanoi.

In 2022, not less than 32 folks have been killed at a packed karaoke bar in southern Vietnam’s Thuan An on account of a fireplace blamed on {an electrical} quick circuit.