Apartment blaze kills 13, injures 27 in Vietnam

At least 13 people were killed and 27 others injured in a devastating fire at an apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam on Friday, officials said.

“Most of the victims died from smoke inhalation, but we also found people who had died jumping from high windows,” a fire department official said.

 “The injured are in stable condition now and we are still searching the block to make sure no one is still trapped in there,” the official added.

The blaze began at around 1:00 am (1800 GMT) at the basement of the block and quickly spread to engulf the building, trapping hundreds of residents, the official who did not want to be identified said.

More than 30 fire engines and 200 fire fighters were at the spot and the fire was extinguished after an hour of frantic efforts, reports Reuters.