The blaze broke out around 5 a.m. in a roughly 30-square-meter house in alley 180 on Kim Hoa Street, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Ward. Inside were a middle-aged couple, their adult son and his wife, and a six-year-old grandchild.

The house’s narrow “tube-style” design, with only one façade, made escape extremely difficult.

Thanh, a neighbour living about 20 meters away, rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion. He saw smoke billowing from the house and heard urgent cries for help, but the metal and glass doors on the first floor were locked.

Thanh and other residents spent 30 minutes prying open two layers of doors using crowbars. Around 30 small fire extinguishers were deployed, and nearby apartment residents ran hoses to spray water, but the fire could not be contained.

The first floor housed an electric car, two petrol-powered motorcycles, and numerous household items, generating intense smoke and flames that spilled outside, forcing rescuers to retreat.

“We heard the cries for help but could do nothing. If the people inside had jumped while we held cushions below, they might have survived,” Thanh recalled.

By 5:30 a.m., four fire trucks and 30 firefighters reached the scene, but the house was already engulfed, producing heavy toxic smoke. Fire hoses had to be extended more than 300 meters from Kim Hoa Street, navigating multiple turns to reach the building.

Firefighters sprayed high-pressure hoses on the first floor and wore specialized breathing equipment to search for victims. By 6 a.m., the fire was extinguished, and an hour later, all five victims were recovered and wrapped in blankets.

The deceased included the elderly couple, aged 69 and 73, the adult son and his wife, aged 37 and 43, and their six-year-old grandchild.

At the scene, three motorcycles and all furniture on the first floor were destroyed, while walls and ceilings had peeled plaster. The staircase leading to the upper floors, including railings, was completely burned.

Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi administration, called on relevant agencies to focus on mitigating the aftermath, investigating the cause of the fire, and providing material and emotional support to the victims’ family.

He also urged authorities to study alley planning, ensure clear escape routes, provide sufficient firefighting equipment and on-site personnel, and raise public awareness about fire prevention and safety.

Early-morning house fire kills four family members in Hanoi

VOV.VN - In the early hours of September 16, a devastating fire broke out in Van Giap village on the outskirts of Hanoi, claiming the lives of four members of the same family.