The fire broke out at around 10:20 a.m. at Volume Club, located at No. 10 Phu My Street in Tu Liem Ward, Hanoi.

Witnesses said they initially saw smoke rising from inside the venue before hearing people shouting for help.

“I was at home when I noticed thick smoke coming from the club,” said a resident living nearby.

“I ran over and shouted to alert people, but the doors were still closed. There were cries for help coming from inside,” he said.

According to witnesses, several small explosions were heard moments before the flames rapidly intensified.

Some residents believed the fire spread quickly after igniting soundproof foam materials inside the building.

The Hanoi Fire Prevention and Rescue Police quickly mobilized a large emergency response, dispatching six fire engines, a ladder truck, a smoke extraction vehicle, a boom lift, four command vehicles and two transport trucks carrying rescue equipment.

More than 70 firefighters and rescue personnel from multiple fire and rescue units were deployed to the scene.

Authorities said the building covered about 182 square meters and had two floors, operating as a restaurant, café and beverage venue.

The establishment had previously operated as a karaoke business before changing its business registration to a restaurant in 2022.

When firefighters arrived, the blaze had already spread extensively, producing dense smoke and toxic gases while threatening nearby buildings.

Initial checks indicated that at least one person was trapped inside.

Firefighters used specialized rescue and firefighting equipment to approach the burning structure from multiple directions while teams worked to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding properties.

However, the rescue operation faced major difficulties due to intense heat, heavy smoke, toxic gases and numerous overhead power lines obstructing ladder truck access.

At around 11:40 a.m., firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control and prevent further spread.

The fire was largely extinguished by approximately 12:30 p.m., though crews continued cooling the structure, removing debris and searching for victims.

The building was left heavily deformed after hours of burning.

Large sections of the structure collapsed, while steel beams and metal components twisted under the extreme temperatures.

At one point during the operation, a firefighter collapsed from exhaustion and received medical treatment at the scene.

Ambulances and emergency medical teams remained stationed outside the venue throughout the rescue effort.

At around 5:03 p.m., rescue workers recovered one victim’s body from inside the wreckage and handed it over to medical authorities.

On the morning of May 12, police and forensic investigators continued sealing off the site to conduct a detailed examination of the scene.

Investigators and forensic technicians photographed, measured and documented evidence throughout the burned structure as authorities worked to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Hanoi police said the city’s police chief had directed the Criminal Investigation Agency and relevant units to urgently investigate the incident and clarify responsibility in accordance with the law.

Dinh Hieu