Eight perish in Saigon house fire

The fire is believed to have started in the 125-square-meter house in District 11’s Ward 11 at around 5:30 p.m., when a 35-year-old man ran out with burns. Many people tried to put out the fire but didn’t succeed.

Dozens of firefighters and 10 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. Two ambulances and medical staff also arrived to take care of the burnt man.

As the alley is pretty narrow, the rescue work proved very difficult.

After the fire was put out at around 7 p.m., seven dead bodies were found – three on the first floor and four in the second floor bathroom. The dead were a 44-year-old woman - the house owner, her three kids aged 9-18, her 43-year-old brother in law, his 9-year-old son, a 15-year-old male visitor, and a female teacher.

"We are still investigating and it’s unknown why the teacher was there," said senior colonel Huynh Quang Tam, head of HCMC's Fire Fighting and Prevention Department.

At 8 p.m., Tam said another body was found on the stairs.

According to HCMC firefighting department, the house only had one main entrance and exit, so when the fire spread, the people inside couldn’t escape and died of asphyxiation.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire.