Fire extinguished at bar near Ben Thanh Market

Black smoke started to billow from District K bar at 30 Thu Khoa Huan Street, which lies 50 meters from HCMC’s iconic Ben Thanh Market, around 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Photo by Truc Anh

Around 10 fire trucks were sent to the scene.

The two-floor bar had been ordered to close in late September as it violated fire safety regulations, but continued to operate for a while.

By the time of the fire, it had been closed for a week after being busted by local authorities.

Firemen spray water into the bar from a height of 20 meters.

Water is sprayed from different directions to put out the fire.

According to police, the interior comprise of soundproofing materials, foam and sofas, making it difficult to put out the fire.

Smoke is seen coming out of the bar from above.

A fireman exits the bar.

Locals gather at Ben Thanh Market to observe the situation.

Thu Hoai, a woman living near the bar, said there were multiple blasts before the fire broke out, and then black smoke billowed out.

The facade of the bar at 11:00 a.m.

The HCMC Police Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention said a preliminary investigation concluded that when fixing the bar, a welder had set the soundproofing foam on fire.

The fire engulfed an area of 300 square meters and did not cause any casualties.