2023 Hanoi building fire

File:Cháy chung cư mini Hà Nội 2023.jpg

The fire started around 23:30 ICT on the first floor of the nine-story building in a residential area southwest of Hanoi.{{Cite web |date=13 September 2023 |title=Flatbrand in Vietnam eist 56 levens |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2490288-flatbrand-in-vietnam-eist-30-levens |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=nos.nl |language=nl |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913162137/https://cookies.nos.nl/sites/NOS/nos.nl/ccm-bar-nl.html?version=v3.2.5-Ik9GH |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Ghosal |first=Aniruddha |date=13 September 2023 |title=Fire in Vietnam's capital kills at least 56 when it engulfs an apartment building |url=https://apnews.com/article/apartment-fire-hanoi-vietnam-deadly-8db1a0259a5bfe4ccae7422e6aaa34f1 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914230455/https://apnews.com/article/apartment-fire-hanoi-vietnam-deadly-8db1a0259a5bfe4ccae7422e6aaa34f1 |url-status=live}} The building housed more than 150 people.

A woman who lived near the apartment said "The apartment is so closed with no escape route, impossible for the victims to get out." She said that she heard many people screaming for help, but wasn't able to provide assistance due to the severity of the fire.

The fire was difficult to extinguish due to the building being located within a narrow alley, forcing the fire trucks to park hundreds of meters away.

At 00:15 on 13 September, fire rescue workers gained access to several lower-level rooms. They rescued two infants and three adults who were found unconscious. All victims were transported to Bạch Mai Hospital, located approximately five kilometers from the scene. By 01:50, the sixth victim, a young child, was also evacuated.{{cite web |work=VnExpress |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=vi |title=Cháy chung cư mini ở Hà Nội, nhiều người mắc kẹt |url=https://vnexpress.net/chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-nhieu-nguoi-mac-ket-4652550.html |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914003935/https://vnexpress.net/chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-nhieu-nguoi-mac-ket-4652550.html |url-status=live }}

The fire was under control by 01:00. Emergency responders faced difficulties parking their vehicles as the building was located in an alley.{{Cite news |last1=Ives |first1=Mike |last2=Doan |first2=Chau |date=13 September 2023 |title=Vietnam Apartment Block Fire Kills at Least 56 People |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/world/asia/fire-vietnam-hanoi-apartment.html |access-date=14 September 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914012807/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/world/asia/fire-vietnam-hanoi-apartment.html |url-status=live}} Around 50 fire trucks continued pouring water on all sides of the building. The police used rope ladders to enter the building and search for victims.

By 05:00, preliminary statistics indicated that over 70 residents had been rescued, with 54 of them receiving immediate medical attention, while more than 30 people were killed.{{cite web |date=13 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=vi |title=Vụ cháy chung cư mini ở Hà Nội: Cứu hộ thành công trên 70 người dân |url=https://laodong.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-cuu-ho-thanh-cong-tren-70-nguoi-dan-1240837.ldo |website=laodong.vn |archive-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915075429/https://laodong.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-cuu-ho-thanh-cong-tren-70-nguoi-dan-1240837.ldo |url-status=live }} By 09:00, the Thanh Xuân district authorities confirmed 70 individuals were rescued, with 54 of them being transported for urgent medical care.

Ten children were among those killed in the fire. One child was thrown from a high floor in an effort to save them from the flames.{{Cite web |title=At least 10 killed, including four children, in Vietnam building blaze |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/13/many-killed-in-huge-fire-at-apartment-block-in-vietnams-hanoi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913053640/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/13/many-killed-in-huge-fire-at-apartment-block-in-vietnams-hanoi |archive-date=13 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en}} Many people were injured after they leaped onto neighboring roofs or jumped from windows to escape the fire.{{cite news |date=13 September 2023 |title=Vietnam: 56 people dead after fire at nine-floor apartment building |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/13/vietnam-apartment-fire-hanoi-deaths |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914054228/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/13/vietnam-apartment-fire-hanoi-deaths |archive-date=14 September 2023}} In total, the fire caused 56 deaths and 37 injuries, and over 100 people were rescued.{{Cite web |date=13 September 2023 |title=Vụ cháy chung cư mini: Hơn 30 người tử vong |url=https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-hon-30-nguoi-tu-vong-20230913133834831.htm |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Báo điện tử Dân Trí |language=vi |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913203613/https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-hon-30-nguoi-tu-vong-20230913133834831.htm |url-status=live}} Victims were taken to Hanoi's major hospitals, with most of them suffering from asphyxia or injuries sustained from jumping out of the building.{{Cite web |publisher=VnExpress |title=Nhiều thi thể được đưa khỏi chung cư mini sau vụ cháy |url=https://vnexpress.net/nhieu-thi-the-duoc-dua-khoi-chung-cu-mini-sau-vu-chay-4652599.html |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=vnexpress.net |language=vi |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914134849/https://vnexpress.net/nhieu-thi-the-duoc-dua-khoi-chung-cu-mini-sau-vu-chay-4652599.html |url-status=live}}

By 12:00, five major hospitals{{Snd}}Bạch Mai Hospital, Đống Đa Hospital, Hà Đông General Hospital, Hanoi University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, and Post Office Hospital{{Snd}}had received a total of 49 patients. Among them were 10 fatalities from outside the hospital (including four children), four immediately discharged mild cases, and 35 patients for treatment (including seven children). The deceased victims were transferred from the scene to the morgue at Military Hospital 103.{{Cite web|url=https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-nhieu-nguoi-tu-vong-20230913063045257.htm|title=Vụ cháy chung cư mini ở Hà Nội: Nhiều người tử vong|date=13 September 2023|website=Báo điện tử Dân Trí|language=vi|access-date=2023-09-13|archive-date=15 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915050559/https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-nhieu-nguoi-tu-vong-20230913063045257.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=13 September 2023 |title=Thứ trưởng Bộ Công an: Số người thương vong vụ cháy chung cư mini rất nhiều |url=https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/thu-truong-bo-cong-an-so-nguoi-thuong-vong-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-rat-nhieu-20230913113424298.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915050630/https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/thu-truong-bo-cong-an-so-nguoi-thuong-vong-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-rat-nhieu-20230913113424298.htm |archive-date=15 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-13 |work=Dân Trí |language=vi}}

By morning, the director of Bach Mai Hospital Đào Xuân Cơ reported that the hospital was treating 24 patients, including seven pediatric cases. The remaining patients were adults distributed across the Emergency Department (A9), Pediatric Center, and Toxicology Department. More than ten patients were in critical condition, with three in extremely critical condition.{{cite web |work=VnExpress |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=vi |title=Nạn nhân vụ cháy chung cư bị ngạt khói, đa chấn thương |url=https://vnexpress.net/nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-bi-ngat-khoi-da-chan-thuong-4652620.html |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914003201/https://vnexpress.net/nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-bi-ngat-khoi-da-chan-thuong-4652620.html |url-status=live }}

Đống Đa Hospital received five patients, with one fatality occurring prior to arrival. The remaining four patients included three cases transferred to Saint Paul Hospital, which consisted of one individual with a spinal injury from a fall and a mother with two children suffering from smoke inhalation. Consequently, the hospital continues to provide care for one patient who is in stable condition. Additionally, the hospital received three deceased individuals, who were placed in the hospital morgue. In total, there were four fatalities located in the hospital morgue at Đống Đa Hospital, including two children.

On 13 September, the Hanoi People's Committee announced financial support for the victims of the fire. Families of deceased victims would receive 37 million VND (equivalent to {{Inflation|US|1536|2023|fmt=c|r=-2}} USD in {{Inflation/year|US}}) each, while those injured would receive 12.4 million VND. In the case of children who perished in the fire, an additional five million VND would be provided from the city's Children's Welfare Fund, and children requiring medical treatment would receive an extra ten million VND.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2023 |title=Mini apartment fire: Support for victims, no fees collected – Vietnam.vn |url=https://www.vietnam.vn/en/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-ho-tro-nan-nhan-chua-thu-cac-khoan-phi/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |language=en |archive-date=17 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917071607/https://www.vietnam.vn/en/vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-ho-tro-nan-nhan-chua-thu-cac-khoan-phi/ |url-status=live }} The city also extended assistance to students, workers, and tenants residing in shared apartments, providing 1.5 million VND per person per month for a period of six months. Individuals injured in the fire and undergoing treatment at hospitals would have all their medical expenses covered. Families with school-going children would receive five million VND to purchase school supplies and educational materials.{{cite web |title=Hà Nội hỗ trợ nạn nhân vụ cháy chung cư mini |url=https://vnexpress.net/ha-noi-ho-tro-nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-4652777.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914191044/https://vnexpress.net/ha-noi-ho-tro-nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-4652777.html |archive-date=14 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-14 |work=VnExpress |language=vi}}

On 14 September, a minute of silence was observed at a government session for the victims of the fire, as well as the recent flash floods in Lào Cai.{{cite web |date=14 September 2023 |title=Lãnh đạo Chính phủ mặc niệm nạn nhân vụ cháy chung cư mini và lũ quét |url=https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-dao-chinh-phu-mac-niem-nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-va-lu-quet-185230914125613194.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915085031/https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-dao-chinh-phu-mac-niem-nan-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-va-lu-quet-185230914125613194.htm |archive-date=15 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=thanhnien.vn |language=vi}}

File:NewOne - ngach 70 ngo 29 pho Khuong Ha 2023 02.jpg authorities following the fire.]]

According to a building permit granted by Thanh Xuân district in March 2015, the building was only authorized to have six residential floors, but the owner illegally built 10 and divided them into 45 apartments for more business profit.{{cite web |title=Công an Hà Nội: Vụ cháy chung cư mini do 'chập điện xe máy' |url=https://vnexpress.net/cong-an-ha-noi-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-do-chap-dien-4655234.html |website=VNExpress |language=Vietnamese}}

The owner and landlord of the apartment building, Nghiêm Quang Minh, was arrested and prosecuted on 13 September, 2023 for violating fire safety regulations. An investigation was launched by the police into the cause of the fire. Witnesses stated that the fire had started in the apartment building's garage, which was filled with motorbikes at the time the fire began.

On 19 September 2023, the Hanoi Police Department announced the results of the investigation into the fire's cause, saying that the fire had started at the southern wall of the building, from a short circuit in an electrical wire to the battery of a gas-powered motorbike. The fire then spread to the building's electrical systems and other vehicles on the ground floor.{{Cite web |last=Trí |first=Dân |date=2023-09-20 |title=Công bố nguyên nhân vụ cháy chung cư mini khiến 56 người tử vong |url=https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/cong-bo-nguyen-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-khien-56-nguoi-tu-vong-20230920095955811.htm |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Báo điện tử Dân Trí |language=vi |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920221856/https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/cong-bo-nguyen-nhan-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-khien-56-nguoi-tu-vong-20230920095955811.htm |url-status=live }}

On March 14th, 2025, the landlord Nghiêm Quang Minh was charged with fire safety violations and illegal construction (by exceeding the number of allowed floors) and was sentenced to 12 years in prison and forced to pay a total of 23.7 billion VND as compensation (equiv. to approx. 920 thousand USD in 2025). Many other former officials of Thanh Xuân district were also convicted and sentenced from a minimum of 30 months to a maximum of 7 years of jail.{{cite web |title=Chủ chung cư mini ở Khương Hạ bị tuyên 12 năm tù trong vụ cháy 56 người chết |url=https://vnexpress.net/chu-chung-cu-mini-khuong-ha-bi-tuyen-12-nam-tu-trong-vu-chay-56-nguoi-chet-4860851.html |website=VNExpress |access-date=7 April 2025 |language=Vietnamese}}

Notable Vietnamese government officials, including Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang, visited the site, as well as the victims who were being treated in nearby hospitals. The prime minister sent his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that the government would cover all treatment costs for those involved. Chính also called for more stringent fire safety measures at small apartments and in highly populated residential areas.{{cite news |date=13 September 2023 |title=Fire kills at least 56 in nine-story building in Vietnam |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/13/asia/vietnam-hanoi-apartment-fire-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914100847/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/13/asia/vietnam-hanoi-apartment-fire-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=14 September 2023}}

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng sent a letter of condolence to the party committee, local government, and residents of Hanoi.{{cite web |date=14 September 2023 |title=Tổng Bí thư Nguyễn Phú Trọng gửi Thư thăm hỏi về vụ hỏa hoạn tại quận Thanh Xuân |url=https://nhandan.vn/post-772454.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916112201/https://nhandan.vn/post-772454.html |archive-date=16 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Báo Nhân Dân điện tử |language=vi}} Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Trần Sỹ Thanh instructed the city to suspend cultural, sports, recreational, and entertainment activities until 17 September, and organize memorial services for the fire's victims.{{cite web |title=Hà Nội tạm dừng hoạt động văn hóa giải trí |url=https://vnexpress.net/ha-noi-tam-dung-hoat-dong-van-hoa-giai-tri-4653312.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915214741/https://vnexpress.net/ha-noi-tam-dung-hoat-dong-van-hoa-giai-tri-4653312.html |archive-date=15 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-14 |work=VnExpress |language=vi}}

Leaders from Laos, Venezuela, and Kazakhstan also expressed their condolences to the victims of the fire.{{Cite web |publisher=VnExpress |title=Lãnh đạo các nước chia buồn về vụ cháy chung cư mini ở Hà Nội |url=https://vnexpress.net/lanh-dao-cac-nuoc-chia-buon-ve-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-4653773.html |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=vnexpress.net |language=vi |archive-date=15 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915213553/https://vnexpress.net/lanh-dao-cac-nuoc-chia-buon-ve-vu-chay-chung-cu-mini-o-ha-noi-4653773.html |url-status=live }}

File:Phó Thủ tướng Trần Lưu Quang kiểm tra, chỉ đạo khắc phục hậu quả vụ cháy nghiêm trọng ở Hà Nội.jpg Trần Lưu Quang visiting the site]]

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• 2022 Binh Duong karaoke bar fire, 2022 building fire in Vietnam
• 2023 Johannesburg building fire, another large residential fire two weeks earlier

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