New Delhi: A deadly fire at an apartment block in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi killed at least 56 people and injured dozens, police said on Wednesday.
It was Vietnam’s worst fire in 20 years, which started just before midnight in the parking floor of the 10-storeyed building, reported AFP.
According to eyewitnesses, the parking lot was packed with motorbikes.
“56 people have been killed and 37 people injured,” Hanoi police department said in a statement.
At least three children were among the casualties, state media reported.
The owner of the apartment block has been arrested on suspicion of violating fire prevention regulations, Hanoi police said.
The blaze was put out by Wednesday morning, but rescuers continued to struggle for hours to get into the building, located in a narrow alley in a residential area.
Around 150 people lived in the complex, authorities said.
One witness called Huong told news agency that a small child was thrown from an apartment to escape the flames.
“The smoke was everywhere. There was a little boy thrown from a high floor, I don’t know whether he survived or not although people used a mattress to catch him,” she said.
Neighbours said they saw several others jumping from the block.
“There was a middle-aged woman jumping down onto my terrace here. She hit her arm and broke it. Another person also jumped down here and broke his leg,” said Dao To Nga.
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