A high number of apartment blocks have their balconies and windows covered with iron cages in Hanoi, impeding fire fighting efforts and residents’ escapes in cases of blazes.

Such buildings are often built on narrow alleys and surrounded by other houses or buidlings, posing further difficulties for firefighters to access them.

The latest tragic inferno at an apartment block down a narrow alley on Khuong Ha Street in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, that has killed 56 people as of Friday, has again raised concern about these cages, known as “tiger cages”.

These iron cages will hinder residents’ escape efforts in case of fires. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre

On another alley on Khuong Ha Street, apartment blocks have mushroomed but many of them have no escape route, but “tiger cages” instead.

Some have up to eight floors each while they are located in a little alley.

On an alley on Yen Hoa Street in Cau Giay District, there are many boarding houses and apartment blocks.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters found that a six-floor apartment block on Alley No. 105 on Yen Hoa Street has 18 rooms for rent each but only three fire extinguishers.

It is also sandwiched between two buildings and has no emergency exit.

High-rise apartment blocks are popular in Hanoi. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Hanoi is currently home to some 2,000 apartment blocks, mainly gathering in Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, and Tay Ho Districts, said a representative of the Hanoi Power Corporation.

The Hanoi People’s Committee on Friday issued a decision to inspect the fire prevention and fighting at all apartment blocks and boarding houses in the capital within 45 days.

The balconies and windows of an apartment block are installed with firm iron cages. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

The conflagration at an apartment block down a narrow alley on Khuong Ha Street in Thanh Xuan District on Tuesday night has killed 56 people and injured 37 others as of Friday.

The Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday prompted firefighting and rescue police agencies in all provinces and cities across the country to review and inspect the compliance with fire prevention and fighting regulations at apartment blocks and boarding houses following the incident.

Each room has a small window. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, the Hanoi People’s Committee required suspending all cultural, sports, and entertainment activities until Sunday in order to hold memorial services for those who perished in the city’s deadliest fire on record.

The municipal administration also asked the city’s departments and all-level agencies to concurrently pay silent tributes to those who lost their lives in the inferno at 8:00 am on Monday next week.

The narrow way to an apartment block down an alley on Khuong Ha Street in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi which burst into flames several days ago. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Many condenser units for air conditioners are installed outside an apartment block on a little alley on Khuong Ha Street in Hanoi. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

A box containing fire extinguishers is locked in Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Apartment blocks in Hanoi are often high-rise and have many rooms. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Many boarding houses have only one exit each at the ground floor. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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