HANOI, VIETNAM – A deadly fire in a Hanoi apartment building left 14 dead and six injured early Friday morning, local officials reported. The blaze occurred in a densely packed area, where narrow alleys hampered firefighting efforts.
The fire ignited around 12:30 a.m., accompanied by multiple explosions, according to local sources. Firefighters struggled to navigate the 6.5-foot-wide alley, relying on hoses to combat the flames. The fire was brought under control within an hour.
Nguyen Thanh Trung, a nearby resident, described being awakened by the explosions. “I could feel the shock at my house,” he said. Trung and others used a ladder to break windows and help residents escape the burning building.
The apartment housed 24 people, including the owner’s family and tenants. The injured are being treated at Hanoi Transport Hospital and are reported to be stable.
The fire started in a courtyard used for electric bike sales and repairs. Trung noted that the family often charged the bikes’ batteries at night, which may have been a factor in the fire.
Police cordoned off the alley, revealing the charred remains of motorbikes and other belongings. Authorities announced compensation for the victims’ families, offering $1,962 for those who lost loved ones and $1,177 for the injured.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar fire in Hanoi last September, where over 50 people died. The narrow lanes of the city once again posed significant challenges for rescue operations.