Police investigate the fire in Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Ward, Hanoi on October 11.
According to an initial report, the blaze broke out at around 5.15 am at the 30-square-metre house, located deep inside Alley 180 of Kim Hoa Street. At the time, the house was occupied by a middle-aged couple, their son and daughter-in-law, and a six-year-old grandchild.
The fire spread rapidly, and all balconies of the house had been sealed with iron bars, preventing the occupants from escaping.
A neighbour living about 20 metres away said he heard cries for help around 5.15 am. When he ran outside, flames and thick smoke were already pouring from the house. "We heard desperate screams from inside, but the iron and glass doors on the ground floor were locked from the inside," he said.
Residents used crowbars to break through two layers of doors, taking about 30 minutes. They also used around 30 handheld fire extinguishers and connected water hoses from a nearby apartment building, but the fire was too strong to contain.
The ground floor contained an electric motorbike, two petrol motorbikes and various household items, which caused the fire to intensify and forced rescuers to retreat.
More than 30 firefighters and four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene at 5.30 am, but access was difficult because the house was located about 300 metres from the main road, deep inside a narrow alley.
The blaze was brought under control by 6 am. Rescuers later found five bodies: a couple aged 69 and 65, their 43-year-old son, his 37-year-old wife, and their six-year-old child.
Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Tran Sy Thanh was present at the scene with local authorities and rescue forces.
Just hours earlier, at around 9.26 pm on October 10, another fire broke out at a four-storey house near Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Lang Ward.
A fire occurs in Lang Ward on the evening of October 10.
According to police, the fire started on the fourth floor, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air. Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported.
Police are investigating the causes of both incidents.