At least 14 people lost their lives and three others were injured in a devastating fire that engulfed a high-rise building in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The fire broke out around 12:30 pm on Thursday, according to a report by the country's Ministry of Public Security cited by Reuters.

Firefighters were able to rescue seven people alive from the five-story building, which housed 24 residents. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported that the blaze originated in the front yard of the building, which was being used as a garage for the sale and repair of electric bikes. Several explosions were heard during the incident, contributing to the chaos and spread of the fire.

Local resident Ngo Thi Thu described the harrowing scenes, mentioning that screams for help and explosions could be heard as the fire quickly spread. He recounted the difficulty in seeing anything due to the thick smoke and the urgency of people rushing to the roof for safety.

The fire service responded promptly, working to control the blaze and rescue the injured, who were subsequently taken to a local hospital. The authorities have already launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Fires in densely populated areas are not uncommon in Vietnam. This recent tragedy follows a significant fire incident in September last year, where 56 people died, and 37 others, including children, were injured in a residential building fire in Hanoi.

This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in high-density urban areas and underscores the importance of stringent fire safety regulations and rapid emergency response systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.