Fire near Children's Hospital, many people carry newborn babies to run away from the fire

At around 5:30 p.m. on September 17, a fire broke out in a four-story boarding house for patients in Ngoc Khanh Ward (Dong Da, Hanoi). The area where the fire broke out was located between the frontage houses on De La Thanh Street and the voluntary medical examination area of ​​the National Children's Hospital.

In just 30 minutes, hundreds of rented rooms were engulfed in flames. All initial firefighting efforts were in vain. “My house was about 2 meters away from the fire. When the fire was still small, I intended to climb onto the metal roof to splash water. I had just run to get a bucket of water when the entire metal roof collapsed, accompanied by a loud electrical explosion,” said Mr. Vu Hung Cuong.

The fire burned for about an hour and spread to five shops selling blankets, sheets, pillows, and mattresses. Within minutes, all five three- to four-story buildings were ablaze.

“The people living in these houses did not know there was a fire at first. I and a few others shouted and they ran out. I and everyone else rushed in to help evacuate their belongings,” said Manh Long, panting and sweating profusely.

The entire La Thanh embankment was blocked, vehicles were directed to move in other directions, causing traffic chaos. Dozens of fire trucks poured from many directions to the center of the fire.

The fire brigade was divided into two main directions to approach the scene. The first direction quickly sprayed water to extinguish the fire in five houses on De La Thanh Street and prevent the fire from spreading. After about an hour, the fire in the five houses was basically under control.

The second approach from the voluntary examination department of the Children's Hospital, the security force used the on-site fire hose to coordinate with the fire police to spray water directly at the place where the fire started. After about 30 minutes, the fire at this point was controlled.

A man wearing a mask and a scarf carries his child out of the hospital. Photo:Ngoc Thanh

At 7 p.m., a fire broke out again at a four-story house on De La Thanh Street. When the fire in the house above was just put out, the entire boarding house behind it flared up again.

By 8pm, the fire was under control. Water continued to be pumped into the smoldering areas.

Carrying the child to run away from the "fire"

After the fire, hundreds of patients and their families sat around the gate of the National Children's Hospital. Many looked pale and frightened, constantly holding their phones to notify their families. Some people then spread out to the surrounding areas to find rooms to rent.

Ms. Tran Thi Tien, who rented a room to treat her son, shared: "The fire was so fierce that I only had time to hold my son and quickly grab two cartons of milk before running away from the scene. I don't know where we will be tonight," Ms. Tien said wearily.

The voluntary medical examination and treatment area of ​​the National Children's Hospital is located 10 meters away from the fire. To ensure safety, hundreds of patients and their families were guided to evacuate by doctors and security guards. "I carried my newborn grandson first, then asked people to help me move some things down. Almost everyone left their belongings behind," said Ms. Duong Thi Tuyet, still patting her little grandchild.

The National Children's Hospital said the fire was outside the hospital grounds and did not affect the hospital. However, many patients in the voluntary area were instructed to evacuate.

De La Thanh Street (Ba Dinh) is about 5 km long, adjacent to Dong Da and Cau Giay districts, with the highest population density and traffic in Hanoi. The facades of most of the houses are shops selling wooden furniture, interior decoration... The two major hospitals here, the National Children's Hospital and the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, are always bustling with people coming and going.