At approximately 5:45 p.m., witnesses were startled by a powerful explosion followed by the sudden eruption of flames from a single-story house located in the southern commune of Tu Hiep within Thanh Tri District. This incident occurred around 12 kilometers away from the bustling downtown area of the capital city.
According to witnesses, the detonation resembled the sound emitted by a gas tank. At the exact moment of the explosion, two motorbike riders who happened to be in the vicinity lost control and tumbled in front of the residence.
Witnesses reported that the husband, in a state of panic, bolted out of the house, desperately calling out for assistance. Wrapping himself in a protective blanket, he swiftly returned to the premises, determined to rescue his loved ones.
Firefighters are present at the location. Image captured by VnExpress/Pham Chieu.
In a tragic incident, a devastating explosion and subsequent fire claimed the lives of a mother aged 31, along with her two young boys, aged 13 and 5. Meanwhile, the father, who is 35 years old, is currently receiving medical care for burns sustained during the incident at a nearby hospital.
The family's roots can be traced back to Nam Dinh, a province in the northern region. Both parents were involved in the profession of scrap collecting, which led them to accumulate a significant amount of flammable materials within their household.
According to Hanoi police, initial investigations suggest that the husband was operating a press machine to flatten scraps when an unfortunate incident occurred. Accidentally, he applied pressure on a can of hairspray, resulting in a potential explosion. This blast then triggered a fire that extended towards a nearby gas tank, ultimately leading to the tragic and fatal explosion.
