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Smoke and flames were seen rising from beneath a four-seat BMW in the G4 basement of the shopping mall, about 10 meters from the building's elevator area, at around 4:10 p.m.
Security staff quickly responded, using on-site fire extinguishers and sand in an attempt to contain the blaze.
Fire erupts in the basement of Takashimaya shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City, Oct. 7, 2025. Video by VnExpress/Minh Bang
Several people joined in, using crowbars to smash the car’s windshield to stop the fire from spreading further inside the vehicle. At the same time, the basement’s automatic fire-suppression system was triggered, releasing water as thick smoke filled the area. Within minutes, the flames were brought under control.
Building staff then cordoned off the burned vehicle and began cleaning the basement. Loudspeakers in the mall later announced that the electrical system had been fully restored after the situation was contained.
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A guard walks past a BMW that caught fire at the basement of Takashimaya shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van |
Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, deputy director of Saigon Centre's management unit, said guards detected the fire during their regular patrol and informed the HCMC fire police.
The local team mobilized 15 people, using CO2 powder extinguishers, sand, and two water hoses to extinguish the fire in about 7 minutes. Two cars parked nearby were moved to prevent the fire from spreading, Thuy said.
"On-site personnel followed the proper procedures, notified authorities, and extinguished the fire promptly, preventing any damage to the building," she added.
The car owner said the BMW, worth over VND2 billion (US$75,860), had just been serviced. He is working with the insurance company to determine the cause of the fire. The building's camera system and related evidence have been provided for the investigation.
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People gather outside the Takashimaya mall in Ho Chi Minh City, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Hoang |
The Takashimaya shopping mall is located inside the 25-floor Saigon Centre building at 92–94 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. It is a high-end Japanese retail and entertainment complex, also known as Saigon Centre – Takashimaya.
The venue stands around 200 m from Ben Thanh Market, housing numerous international and domestic brands, along with a food court, attracting large numbers of visitors.
