Foreigners scream for help during house fire at HCMC expat hub

The blaze started around 8 a.m., originating from a bedroom in the service apartment complex, which has 12 rental rooms. At the time of the fire, 15 people were inside, including nine foreigners.

Occupants attempted to use fire extinguishers to control the fire but were unsuccessful. Many fled the building using the staircases, while some on the upper floors sought refuge on the rooftop, calling for help.

Thanh Phuong, 35, was in her room when smoke began to fill the space. She quickly grabbed her bag and a few personal items before rushing to the ground floor.

“The fire spread so rapidly that all we could do was shout to alert each other and run,” she said.

 

 

Foreigners scream for help during house fire at HCMC expat hub

Cháy căn hộ dịch vụ 5 tầng trong khu Thảo Điền

Several firefighting trucks and 20 firefighters arrived at the scene. They extinguished the flames on the first floor before rescuing eight people from the rooftop.

A representative from the Thao Dien Ward People’s Committee stated that there were no casualties, though the fire damaged several items inside the building. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

The Thao Dien area, situated 7-8 km from downtown HCMC, is a well-developed neighborhood with a significant expatriate population.