Two of nine persons who had been rescued from the site of a building collapse at about 3.30am today at No 43 Cua Bac Street in Hanoi have died.

Rescue men put great efforts to rescue the victims being trapped in the house that collapsed on Cua Bac Street today.

Nguyen Van Thanh died at 7.25am on the way to hospital. Nguyen Thi Hang died four hours later.

The other seven persons are receiving treatment at the hospital.

Initial reports by the Truc Bach Ward Police in Ba Dinh District said the building housed the Nem Xuan Dan Restaurant owned by Tran Anh Tuan, 52, a resident of No 63 Ham Long, Hoan Kiem District in Hanoi.

The structure reportedly collapsed because it was very old, and almost did not have a proper foundation.

A neighbour, Nguyen Thi Van, living in house number 41, was re-building her old house and had got its foundation dug up, possibly affecting the stability of building number 43.

The four storey house gave way while the residents inside were all sleeping. Three first victims of the collapse were pulled out from the house by rescuers including Nguyen Van Thanh who was confirmed dead in Thanh Nhan Hospital, Nguyen Van Quang, Nguyen Thi Thoa. 

Later rescue team brought more four others including Nguyen Vinh Dua was born in 1983, Tran Van Dan (1986), Nguyen Hong Chien born (1999) and Nguyen Van Thang (1998) out of the collapsed house.

The last victim Nguyen Thi Hang was also dead.

Over 300 local police, military, and firefighting officers arrived at the scene with dispatch shortly after the collapse. They had to carry each brick and assets in the collapsed house out to find out victims. 

Further investigation is being carried out.

Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung and leaders from the Department of Construction were rushed to the scene to directly instruct search and  rescue task. Mr. Chung urged related agencies to check other old houses in the region to issue warning to residents.

SGGP/VNS