Dozens Killed in Residential Building Fire in Vietnam

A massive fire swept through a residential building in Hanoi, Vietnam. The fire is believed to have started late Tuesday.

Initial reports from the official news agency, citing local authorities in the Vietnamese capital, indicate that "dozens have been killed."

According to the official news agency, about 70 people were rescued from the fire, and 54 people were rushed to hospitals, including many who lost their lives in the tragic event.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire broke out just before midnight on Tuesday-Wednesday (17:00 GMT).

Videos circulated by Vietnamese media showed flames engulfing a substantial portion of the ten-story building, located in a narrow alley in a residential neighborhood of Hanoi.

One resident, Huo, speaking to AFP, said, "We can't help them much. There is no way for the victims to escape."

Vietnam has witnessed several deadly fires in recent years, raising concerns about the enforcement of safety regulations in the country.

Last year, a fire in a bar near Ho Chi Minh City in the south led to the tragic loss of 32 lives.