32 killed in Vietnam karaoke bar fire

A fire broke out at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam killing 32 people. Some parts of the building still remain inaccessible even after more than a day.

It is reported that the fire that began late on Tuesday (local time) inside a multi-story venue in Thuan An city, Binh Duong province trapped workers and customers inside. 

Though the fire was brought under control quickly, it burned down slowly the next day.

At least one karaoke room and a storage room were inaccessible due to the high temperature. As of late Wednesday, the Vietnam News Agency reported 32 deaths from the blaze.

Police warned that the number of victims could increase as the search continues.

Ministry of Public Security informed in a statement said that about 60 people were in the bar when the fire started.

"The fire started on the second floor of the bar and quickly spread to the third floor, which was full of flammable material," the statement said.

According to the reports, several victims were found dead in a toilet in the three-story building.

"When the fire broke out, I was so panicked and ran for safety and can't remember how it happened," Quynh, a witness said to the official Vietnam News Agency.

Reports further stated that some people suffered from asphyxiation while others broke their limbs when they jumped from higher floors trying to escape the fire. With the use of ladders from firetrucks, firefighters managed to rescue other people trapped in the building.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc extended his condolences to the families of the victims. He also asked government officials to quickly find the cause of the blaze.

The preliminary finding state that the fire started on the second or third floor due to an electrical short circuit.

The fire was Vietnam's deadliest since 2018 when 13 people died in a blaze in an apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City.

Three firefighters were killed while fighting a blaze at another karaoke bar in Hanoi last month.