A mini-apartment building of 200 square meters caught fire early on September 13 in Khuong Dinh ward, Thanh Xuan district.

Firefighters and paramedics take fire victims to the hospital in the early morning of September 13. Photo: Tuan Anh/The Hanoi Times

A fire broke out in an illegal nine-storey mini-apartment building in Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, at 11 pm on September 12.

About 150 people live in the 200 m2 building. As soon as the case was reported, Thanh Xuan District authorities, police, and fire and rescue teams rushed to the area.

The narrow, deep alleyway made it difficult for the firefighters to carry out their operations, and the fire was extinguished at 2 am the next day, September 13.

By 5 am on September 13, approximately 70 people had been removed from the building, and 54 of them were taken to the hospital.

The Hanoi Department of Health set up 10 teams with 50 health workers to support medical treatment at the scene and to transport victims to local hospitals as quickly as possible.

The Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Ding Tien Dung has requested the best resources for the victims and their relatives.

He also asked the police to take custody of the property and remains in the building and further investigate the case.

After being treated at Bach Mai General Hospital, Hanoi Medical University Hospital and Dong Da Hospital, many victims, including children, have recovered and some have been discharged.

According to Dao Xuan Co, director of Bach Mai General Hospital, most victims suffer from smoke inhalation and injuries, but none are burned.

"The victims were hospitalized in shock, with no one to accompany them," he said.

On September 13, Deputy Minister Tran Luu Quang offered his condolences to the victims and their relatives and ordered Hanoi and Thanh Xuan district authorities to care for them.

He also ordered local authorities and police to find out the cause of the fire and severely punish violators.

To reduce the risk of fire, Deputy Minister Quang urged other provinces and cities to step up their efforts in fire prevention, and to further inspect local facilities, especially mini-apartment buildings, rental houses, and other places with high population density.