ĐÀ LẠT — Five people were confirmed dead after a fire broke out at a house in Lâm Đồng Province’s Đà Lạt City on Monday night.

The incident took place at around 7.20pm at the 30sq.m house of Nguyễn Văn Thăng, 42, on Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Ward 10. The fire then spread to adjacent houses.

Four of the victims were members of Thăng’s family. The fifth victim is yet to be identified.

Five fire brigades and many fire fighters in Lâm Đồng Province were mobilised to the scene soon after the fire was reported. It took one hour for the fire to be extinguished.

Local witnesses said they heard an explosion when the fire broke out. Although people from the adjacent houses managed to escape, a lot of their furniture was destroyed in the fire.

Tôn Thiện San, vice chairman of Đà Lạt City People’s Committee, said the city authorities had arranged for temporary accommodation for the affected families and would provide them with financial support to help them recover.

Major General Bùi Văn Sơn, director of Lâm Đồng Province Police, on Tuesday said that police found a gasoline burner and a plastic container of petroleum at Thăng’s house.

He said that the cause of the fire at Thăng’s house was complex.

Sơn said that last month, Thăng’s family had a dispute with a neighbour. The neighbour injured Thăng, and the alleged assault is still under investigation.

The Major General also said that in Thăng’s neighbourhood, there were families living in makeshift houses. Đà Lạt City planned to remove the houses and relocate the families for years but the plan had not been implemented.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, on behalf of the Government, sent condolences to the victims. He also asked the Public Security Ministry to co-operate with relevant agencies to investigate the case. Results of the investigation should be reported to the Prime Minister by March 20. — VNS