More Than 20 Dead in Vietnam Karaoke Bar Fire

At least 23 people have died in a fire at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam. Eleven people were also injured, according to local authorities.

There are fears that these numbers will continue to rise. Emergency services are desperately looking for more victims.

The fire mainly affected the second and third floors of the building near Ho Chi Minh City. According to state media, dense smoke blocked access to the stairwell, making it impossible for the victims to move. Some jumped from a balcony in panic.

It is currently unclear what started the fire. However, the fire safety is said to have been checked shortly before the incident.

This is not the first time that the country has been hit by a fire that has claimed many lives. In 2018, for example, thirteen people were killed in a fire in an apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City.