Four houses were destroyed in a fire that erupted near a signature floating market in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam on Thursday.

The fire broke out around noon, close to the Cai Rang Floating Market in Le Binh Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City.

Reports said that local residents heard a loud explosion at the time, followed by a fierce blaze at a wooden house near the floating market.

The locals then tried to put out the fire before calling firefighters for help.

But the flames were fanned by strong wind so other wooden houses in the proximity were quickly burned down as well.

Can Tho firefighting police dispatched tens of fire trucks, speedboats, and many officers to contain the fire.

Firefighters contain the fire near the Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho, Vietnam, November 8, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Smoke was seen billowing hundreds of meters into the sky while the conflagration occupied a large section near the Cai Rang Floating Market.

Those living around the area rushed to evacuate their houses whereas nearby boat and floating fish farm owners also joined the evacuation.

Four houses were gutted but no human casualties have been reported.

Police are working out the cause of the blaze.

The Cai Rang Floating Market is a must-visit in Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta.

The market opens from 8:00 am to 9:00 am every day, when hundreds of boats gather to vend agro-products, according to the website of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Vendors hang their wares on a long bamboo stick before their boats so that customers can see what they are selling and choose from them.

Sometimes, buyers have to catch products thrown by sellers from their boats.   

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