Hanoi house fire: Five killed after blaze breaks out in four-storey building

Five people were killed after a fire broke out in a four-storey house in a densely populated area of Hanoi, Vietnam, early on Wednesday, September 16, police said. Four others escaped the building before firefighters brought the blaze under control. The fire broke out at a house in a narrow alley off Van Cao Street in Hanoi's Tay Ho Ward at around 1.50am, according to local reports. Residents raised the alarm and tried to put out the flames with available equipment, but were unable to control the fire. Hanoi police received the emergency call at about 2am and sent a command vehicle, five fire engines and nearly 40 officers and firefighters to the scene, according to local reports. Fire and rescue teams from nearby units also joined the operation. When firefighters arrived, four people had escaped, while several others were trapped inside the house, according to local reports. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to search for those inside. They also used water to stop the flames from spreading to the upper floors and nearby houses. The blaze was brought under control at about 2.30am and was completely extinguished 15 minutes later, Hanoi police said. Rescue teams found five people dead during a search of the building. Their bodies were handed over to medical authorities. The four-storey house had a floor area of about 60 square metres per floor. Police are investigating the cause of the fire and working to establish the identities of the victims. According to local reports, Hanoi People's Committee chairman Vũ Đại Thắng visited the site and directed authorities to support the victims' families and deal with the aftermath of the fire.