Eleven Lives Lost in a Cafe Blaze in Hanoi
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Hanoi, Dec 19 (NationPress) A devastating fire, believed to have been ignited by a petrol bomb, at a cafe in Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi, resulted in the tragic loss of 11 lives, according to reports from local media on Thursday.
The inferno erupted at approximately 11 p.m. in a building located on Pham Van Dong Street in the Bac Tu Liem district. The cafe, known for being a popular spot for singing gatherings, was rapidly consumed by flames and smoke, extending to a nearby residence, as per VnExpress.
Authorities discovered 11 victims deceased and successfully rescued seven others, with five individuals in stable condition and two requiring hospitalization, reported VnExpress.
The police department in Bac Tu Liem district confirmed that a 51-year-old man, from Hanoi's Dong Anh district, is the primary suspect connected to the fire, according to a report from Xinhua quoting the Vietnam News Agency.
The authorities initiated legal action against the man, who has a history of two previous convictions for robbery and theft.
Following an altercation with the cafe staff, he admitted to purchasing gasoline and dousing the first floor of the cafe.
This incident recalls a similar tragedy that occurred on May 24, when a fire at a rental building in Hanoi took the lives of 14 people and injured three others.
The building, covering an area of 100 square meters, is situated in a narrow alley approximately two meters wide and about 200 meters from Trung Kinh Street, rendering it inaccessible to fire trucks.
The multistory rental building contained two rooms on each floor, with the first floor designated for electric bicycle sales and repairs.
An electrical short circuit in an electric bicycle was initially identified as the cause of the fire, which broke out at 0.30 a.m.
In the first four months of this year alone, Vietnam experienced 1,555 fires and explosions, resulting in the deaths of 28 individuals and injuries to 26 others. These incidents led to property losses amounting to approximately 89.8 billion Vietnamese dong (around $3.5 million), according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
