At least 14 dead in Vietnam residential building fire
An overnight fire in an apartment building on a narrow alley in Vietnam's capital has killed 14 people and injured six others, state media says.
The apartment building in central Hanoi could only be accessed through a 2m-wide alley, preventing fire trucks from reaching it.
Firefighters eventually contained the fire by using hoses, state media said.
The fire started about 12.30am on Friday and was accompanied by several explosions, the Vietnam News Agency said.
It took an hour to extinguish.
Neighbor Nguyen Thanh Trung said he was asleep when he heard the explosions and rushed out to see what was happening.
"I could feel the shock at my house," he said, adding that he and others got a ladder to break the window to help people escape.
State media reported the building had 24 residents at the time - seven in the owner's family and 17 tenants.
The injured were in a stable condition and were being treated at Hanoi Transport Hospital.
The fire started in the small courtyard in front of the building that was used as a garage for the sale and repair of electric bikes, state media reported.
Trung said the family would often charge the bikes' batteries at night.
The alley was later cordoned off by police.
The charred remains of burnt motorbikes and plants and scattered belongings remained at the apartment.
This fire was reminiscent of a September blaze in Hanoi in which more than 50 people died in similar circumstances.
Rescue operations then were also hindered by the city's narrow lanes.
