Hotel fire in Ho Chi Minh City kills two as rescuers save 26

A hotel fire in Ho Chi Minh City killed two people early on Sept. 7, but emergency crews brought 26 others to safety as flames spread through the building.

The fire broke out at about 5:09 a.m. at the privately operated T.D. Hotel on Tan Ky Tan Quy Street, in Tan Son Nhi Ward. The five-story building had 19 rooms, including 16 rental rooms and three family residences. Its ground-level rolling door was closed when the fire started, leaving several guests trapped inside and banging on the doors for help.

People on the rooftop tried to escape by using ropes to cross onto the roofs of neighboring homes. Firefighters approached the hotel from several directions, including the stairs, emergency exits and balconies, while a specialized ladder truck helped search for trapped victims.

The city's fire prevention and rescue police deployed teams from Areas 13 and 14, sending seven firefighting vehicles and 48 personnel. Crews directly guided 26 people out of the building. Seven showed signs of smoke inhalation and were taken to medical facilities for examinations. Their condition was stable, and no serious injuries were reported.

The fire was fully extinguished by 5:17 a.m. Initial damage assessments put the burned area at about 12 square meters of the hotel's 503 square meters. Firefighters protected the remaining 491 square meters, nearby homes and property, including motorcycles, from the flames. Tan Ky Tan Quy Street remained temporarily sealed while investigators examined the scene and worked to determine the cause.