On 27/7, a representative from Cho Ray Hospital announced that the patients died successively after several days of treatment. The latest victim was a 30-year-old female patient who sustained burns to approximately 60% of her body, concentrated on her head, face, chest, abdomen, and limbs, along with respiratory burns. She passed away on the evening of 26/7 after more than two weeks of intensive care.

The victims were customers and staff who suffered burns in the restaurant fire on Ngo Duc Ke street, Binh Thanh ward, on the evening of 11/7. Five people with severe burns and respiratory injuries were transferred to Cho Ray Hospital. After several days of treatment, a 44-year-old woman with over 98% body burns died, followed by a 48-year-old woman with 60% burns, and two men aged 51 and 56 with 60% and 80% body burns, respectively.

A representative from Cho Ray Hospital stated that all patients suffered respiratory burns, which are among the most severe and dangerous injuries for fire victims. Patients received anti-shock treatment for burns, ventilator support, and multiple lung lavages to clear soot from their trachea and bronchi to improve respiration. However, soot adhering to the respiratory tract lining is difficult to remove, easily causing irritation, inflammation, and edema, leading to severe, life-threatening respiratory failure.

Thus, the restaurant fire resulted in five fatalities. The remaining victim, a 46-year-old woman with approximately 2% body burns, was treated at Gia Dinh People's Hospital and discharged on 14/7.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by authorities.

A patient receiving treatment at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department, Cho Ray Hospital. *Photo: Hospital provided*

Le Phuong