Around 13:15, a fire broke out in an apartment on the 10th floor of building L6, a condominium complex in Thanh My Tay ward, approximately 2 km from Ba Son bridge. The apartment was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Smoke and flames from the fire billowed out onto the balcony. *Photo: Minh Bang*

The fire alarm activated, prompting hundreds of residents, accompanied by their children and pets, to evacuate via emergency staircases to the lobby and ground-level complex. Thick black smoke billowed from the apartment, spreading to the balcony.

Tram Anh, a resident living on the 12th floor, stated that upon hearing the alarm and announcements from the management board, she quickly took her two young children down the stairs. "Many people crowded into the narrow emergency exit, making it stuffy and difficult to breathe inside," she said.

Firefighters deployed a ladder nearly 15 m high to access the burning apartment and extinguish the flames. *Photo: Minh Bang*

Police dispatched three fire trucks and over 20 officers and soldiers to the scene. Authorities used high ladders to access the apartment and spray water to extinguish the fire. Firefighters controlled the blaze after approximately 10 minutes.

Initially, the cause was determined to be a burning air conditioner outdoor unit.

Dinh Van