A devastating fire broke out in a four-story row house in the Văn Phú urban area of Hanoi on July 3, leading to the tragic deaths of two people and leaving another severely injured. The fire started around 1:30 PM at house number 7 in the adjacent row of homes, which spans approximately 70 square meters. The first two floors of the house were used for a furniture business, while the upper floors were residential.
Witnesses reported that shortly after the fire ignited, a man managed to escape from the first floor but suffered severe burns on his hands and back. He was subsequently rushed to the National Burn Institute for treatment. The flames originated from the first floor and quickly spread to the upper levels.
Local residents attempted to extinguish the fire using dozens of mini fire extinguishers and water, but their efforts were in vain. Approximately ten minutes after the fire began, the first firefighting team arrived at the scene, but by then, the fire had already engulfed the first floor and begun to spread upwards. Additional firefighting teams soon joined the effort, totaling five fire trucks, one ladder truck, and two command vehicles, along with 45 firefighters working tirelessly to control the blaze.
Firefighters had to cut through the metal door on the third floor to search for any individuals trapped inside. They utilized breathing apparatus and specialized equipment to navigate the upper floors in search of victims while also working to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring houses.
By 2:30 PM, the fire was finally extinguished, but tragically, two bodies were discovered on the upper floors. Their identities have not yet been confirmed. The Văn Phú urban area, which is densely populated, consists of numerous row houses and has previously experienced several fire incidents. The most recent fire occurred on June 15, when the fourth floor of another row house caught fire, fortunately without causing any injuries.
As of 5 PM, authorities continued to secure the area for investigation into the cause of the fire. The Văn Phú urban area is located approximately 13 kilometers from Hoan Kiem Lake and covers 94.8 hectares, featuring over 200 villas, around 2,500 row houses, shophouses, and several high-rise apartment buildings.
