Hanoi police report 56 deaths in apartment block inferno

Police in Hanoi on Wednesday confirmed 56 deaths in a fire that hit an apartment block the day before, with 39 of them identified. The fire at the apartment block down a narrow alley on Khuong Ha Street in Thanh Xuan District caused extremely serious consequences, police officers stated. The conflagration broke out at 11:50 pm on Tuesday at the apartment block, which consists of nine floors and a mezzanine and is home to around 150 people. Police have detained Nghiem Quang Minh, 44, residing in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, the owner of the apartment block, over alleged violations of fire prevention and fighting regulations, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper reported. The ministry also requested that the Hanoi police visit and support the families of the victims.