Around 5h AM on 5/12, a fire erupted from the kitchen of a hotpot and snail restaurant on Tran Hung Dao Street in Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. The blaze trapped five individuals, forcing them to climb to the rooftop to call for help.

Smoke and fire engulfed the restaurant on Tran Hung Dao Street, trapping five people. *Minh Hoang*

The fire quickly spread to flammable materials, blocking the front exit. The Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department (PCCC) swiftly mobilized five fire trucks, one ladder truck, and over 50 officers and soldiers to the scene.

Rescuers extended the ladder truck more than 15 m to safely bring the trapped individuals down. Concurrently, multiple teams sprayed water from the ground floor to contain the blaze and prevent further spread.

The ladder truck was raised high as firefighters rescued trapped individuals and extinguished the blaze. *Minh Hoang*

Firefighters extinguished the blaze after approximately 30 minutes, but it had destroyed much of the restaurant's property. By 6h AM, authorities were still cooling down the scene to prevent reignition.

Truong Thi Minh Dung, chairwoman of Cau Ong Lanh Ward People's Committee, confirmed that all five individuals were safely rescued. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.