A fire broke out at a boarding house in Trung Hoa Ward under Cau Giay District, Hanoi in the wee hours of Friday, leaving 14 people dead and three others injured, a local police official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper at 6:49 am.

A leader of the Cau Giay District Police said the fire started at about 0:30 am at the three-story building located in a narrow alley on Trung Kinh Street.

A while later, black smoke covered the building accompanied by many explosions.

A leader of the Transport Hospital JSC informed that the hospital admitted three victims of the blaze, including 80-year-old N.T.K., 30-year-old N.T.X., and 35-year-old N.T.K., in the first hours on Friday. 

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (R, 2nd) and many other officials at the scene of the fire. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

Receiving the news, local firefighters reached the scene of the incident with many fire trucks.

The fire was completely put out at 1:26 am and police officers and firefighters left the scene at 6:50 am.

Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the administration in Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre that the city had tasked the relevant units with investigating the cause of the fire and employing measures to deal with the consequences of the incident.

Vice-chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong (in a blue shirt) reaches the scene of the incident. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

The house is about 100 square meters large including a yard and two blocks, with one block housing the owner’s family and another 12-room block for rent.

There were 24 people inside the house at the time of the fire, including seven members of the owner’s family and 17 room renters.

The conflagration damaged many motorbikes, bicycles, and electric bikes in the yard.

Local residents use fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. Photo: Hoai An / Tuoi Tre

A firefighter at the scene of the fire. Photo: Supplied

The fire damages many belongings and vehicles. Photo: Pham Dung / Tuoi Tre

The body of a dead person is moved out of the house. Photo: Minh Thanh / Tuoi Tre

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