Fire erupts in apartment at old Nguyen Cong Tru residential complex

A fourth-floor apartment in the Nguyen Cong Tru residential complex caught fire around noon on 21/5, sending black smoke dozens of meters high and prompting residents to flee into the street.

On 21/5, around 10 AM, a fire erupted in a fourth-floor apartment within block B1 of the Nguyen Cong Tru residential complex in Hai Ba Trung ward, Hanoi. The blaze initially smoldered, then rapidly intensified, sending a column of thick black smoke high into the sky, visible from afar.

Smoke rising from the burning apartment. *Video: Quoc Phu*

Thick smoke quickly filled the hallway and adjacent apartments, prompting numerous residents to evacuate downstairs in a panic. Fortunately, the apartment was unoccupied when the fire started.

Authorities dispatched four fire trucks and approximately 20 firefighters to the scene. The area surrounding the building was promptly cordoned off to facilitate firefighting and rescue efforts.

The scene of the fire. *Photo: Tien Thanh*

The apartment's elevated position and enclosure by iron bars posed significant challenges. Firefighters resorted to climbing trees and standing on kiosk roofs below to cut through the metal grating with specialized pliers, enabling external water access. Simultaneously, another team ascended the stairwell, forced open the apartment door, and worked to suppress the flames from within.

The fire was fully extinguished after approximately 45 minutes. While there were no human casualties, the apartment sustained extensive damage to property and furnishings.

The Nguyen Cong Tru residential complex, constructed in the 1960s, stands as one of Hanoi's oldest. Nearly 700 households currently reside there. Many residents have expanded their living spaces due to the small original apartment sizes and years of structural degradation.