Large crowds of both foreigners and locals on Tuesday flocked to Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area in downtown Ho Chi Minh City to witness a fire hitting a restaurant there.

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According to a passer-by, at about 4pm, some people at the busy intersection of Bui Vien and De Tham streets found smoke coming from the signboard of Crazy Buffalo restaurant and informed its staff.

Soon afterwards, four fire trucks were deployed to the scene and the fire was quickly put under control. The fire caused a 30 min long traffic congestion in the area.

While on way to the HCMC-based Tan Son Nhat airport, Japanese freelance photojournalist Murayama Yasufumi shot several photos of the fire and sent to Tuoi Tre.

* In related news, another fire broke out at Ngo Gia Tu apartment building in HCMC’s district 10 on the same afternoon, pulling hundreds of panicked residents out of their homes. The fire was put out nearly one hour later. 

Reports said an old woman who got stuck on the second floor of the building was rescued.

The exact cause of both fires is under investigation.