A fire broke out outside the Thang Long Puppetry theater in Hanoi on the evening of Sept 8 during a show for foreigners.

Without warning, the advertising board in front of the theater, located at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hoan Kiem district, burst out in flames.

Witnesses said that they heard an explosion from an electric wire system nearby shortly before the fire started at around 8pm.

Some hundred curious passers-by gathered in front of Hanoi’s hallmark Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the fire.

Two fire engines arrived at the scene and the local fire brigade was able to control the fire by 9pm.

The incident didn’t cause human casualty and the damage has yet to be accessed.

According to police investigation, the fire was caused by short circuits.