Around 3:30, fire and smoke erupted from the first floor of a four-story house, approximately 60 m2, on Yersin street, Ben Thanh ward, about 600 m from Ben Thanh Market.

At the time, a couple, both 44 years old, and their three young children, aged 4 to 12, were sleeping in the upper rooms. Upon discovering the fire, the family ran to the ground floor, but flames had engulfed the first floor, blocking their only escape route through the main door.

Unable to escape, the five ran to the balcony on the fourth floor and called for help. Thick black smoke caused many to suffer from smoke inhalation.

Upon receiving the report, forces from the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police, whose headquarters are about 1,5 km from the scene, quickly dispatched several specialized vehicles to extinguish the fire.

Flames raged on the first floor as firefighters entered from the ground floor to battle the blaze. Photo: Minh Nghiem

Firefighters deployed a ladder over 20 m high to reach the fourth-floor balcony, safely bringing all five people to the ground. Another team forced entry through the ground floor door to access the first floor and extinguish the flames.

The fire was brought under control after about 20 minutes, but much property and furniture on the first floor were destroyed.

Dinh Van