Hanoi apartment fire caused 'very heavy' consequences: top police officer

The number of people killed or injured is "very large," Tuyen said at a meeting with the National Assembly on Wednesday morning, with at least 10 casualties confirmed so far, including four children.

He said leaders from the ministry had arrived at the site to instruct Hanoi police on rescuing the victims.

The fire broke out at around 11 p.m. Tuesday at a 10-story house divided into rooms for rent for more than 40 families in an alley off Khuong Ha Street in Thanh Xuan District.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.