Two siblings and their cousin, aged 11-19, were killed in a house fire in Dong Da District, Hanoi on Saturday morning, according to the municipal police department.

The fire engulfed the five-story house located in a narrow alley named Tho Quan at around 5:20 am.

The scene of the deadly house fire. Photo: Tuoi Tre contributor

A dozen firefighters and around seven fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, but it was challenging for them to approach the narrow, multiple-story, and deep house in the narrow alleyway to put out the fire and conduct the rescue operation.

Firefighter put out the fire. Photo: Minh Quang / Tuoi Tre

At the time of the fire, the married couple owning the house, both aged 37, were away from home, while their two children, aged 11 and 13, and the 19-year-old cousin were trapped inside, said the police department.

Hai, who lives in the neighborhood, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he heard an explosion, packing smoke and flames in the first floor of the house at over 5:00 am the same day when he was doing morning exercise.

Hai and some others knocked on the door but received no response.

Another witness told the paper that local residents in the neighborhood jointly tried to put out the fire and broke the door but failed.

The homeowner runs a nail and eyelash accessories business, thereby there was a large amount of goods stored in this house, the witness added.

Ambulances arrive at the scene of the deadly house fire. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

The fire was extinguished at around 9:00 am the same day.

As of 11:00 am, rescuers managed to take the body of the last victim out of the scene.

After the rescue operation was completed, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the municipal administration, directed the police department to urgently investigate the cause of the deadly fire, while asking relevant agencies to visit and give condolences to the bereaved family.​

A rescue team approaches the fire-engulfed house. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

The state of the house after the deadly fire. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

A police officer is seen exhausted after joining the fire-fighting and rescue operation. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

A firefighter suffers a shoulder injury after joining the fire-fighting and rescue operation. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

Firefighter Duong Duc Anh takes a break on the sidewalk after joining the fire-fighting and rescue operation. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

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