Apartment block fire in Vietnam leads to deaths of 56 people, say reports

A blaze in a nine-storey apartment block in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has led to the deaths of at least 56 people according to reports.

The population of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, has quadrupled over the past 20 years

The fire broke out overnight on 12/13 September, and was said to be contained by around 2AM. The rescue operation is still ongoing.

Reports on the total number of casualties have been mixed. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has reportedly said that at least 56 people have been killed, including children.

The building is home to around 150 residents. State media also said that around 70 people had been rescued.

“Only a single exit”

The blaze reportedly started on the apartment block’s parking floor which had many motorbikes parked, and quickly spread to the rest of the building. A thorough investigation has been called for by the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

According to the AFP news agency, the building’s balconies were surrounded by iron, with the apartment block only having a single exit and no emergency ladder on the outside.

The structure of the building includes an underground car park, eight storeys of apartments and a top floor balcony.

Witnesses are reported to have seen several people jumping from windows to escape the fire.

Hanoi authorities have previously said that many new apartment blocks do not meet fire safety regulations. The city’s population has quadrupled in the past 20 years, likely putting pressure on construction for new residential buildings.

Last year, 32 people died in a fire at a karaoke club in southern Vietnam where escape routes were also said to be blocked.

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