Ho Chi Minh City apartment building fire kills 8

The delegation included representatives from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and various city departments.

Chairman Duoc offered condolences, visited affected households, and provided immediate emergency support to the victims' families.

At the scene, he inspected the damage and instructed relevant authorities to urgently investigate the cause of the fire and determine the responsibilities of any involved individuals or organizations.

The fire broke out at around 10:30 pm on Sunday, beginning on the ground floor of the apartment building located in Alley 80 on Do Doc Long Street.

Residents reported hearing multiple loud explosions and smelling burning plastic before discovering smoke and flames inside the building.

The blaze quickly spread to the first floor.

Locals tried to put out the fire but were unsuccessful.

The flames engulfed the building while fire and rescue units rushed to the scene.

One witness said they were awakened by the explosion and saw ambulances and fire trucks already in the alley when they stepped outside.

Authorities have confirmed the identities of four victims from the same family, including P.D.D., 40, a native of Khanh Hoa Province, his wife D.T.N., 38, from Ninh Binh Province, their 11-year-old son P.Kh., and seven-year-old daughter P.N.A.

The other four victims, all adults, have not yet been identified.

All eight bodies were transported to Binh Hung Hoa morgue for autopsy.

As of 3:00 am on Monday, city police and local officials were still at the scene investigating the cause of the fatal fire.

On the ground floor, a car was completely burned, several motorbikes were reduced to their frames, the tin roof had collapsed, and thick soot blackened the apartment's exterior.