Fifty-six people died in a tragic apartment block fire in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, as confirmed by local police on Wednesday. Witnesses at the scene described hearing screams from within the building and a small boy being thrown from the structure.
According to eyewitness accounts, Vietnam’s deadliest fire in two decades began shortly before midnight on Tuesday (at 1700 GMT) in the parking area of a 10-story building, densely filled with motorcycles.
“56 people have been killed and 37 people injured,” the Hanoi police department said.
State media has reported that at least three children died among the casualties in a deadly incident. Hanoi police have arrested the owner of the apartment block on suspicion of violating fire prevention regulations.
The fire was extinguished by Wednesday morning; however, rescue teams faced significant challenges in gaining access to the building due to its location in a narrow alley within a residential area in southwest Hanoi.
The apartment complex had small balconies enclosed by iron bars, featured a single exit, and lacked an emergency ladder on the exterior.
Authorities reported that approximately 150 residents inhabited the complex.
According to the government’s statement, the Prime Minister of the country visited the fire site on Wednesday and called for the enforcement of fire safety regulations in small apartment buildings and densely populated residential areas.
