HCMC Fire on Trần Hưng Đạo Street Leaves Four Dead Before Reaching Hospital

A pre-dawn fire in central Ho Chi Minh City on 5 December claimed the lives of four people, including two children, after they went into cardiac arrest before arriving at the hospital. Two others survived but remain under medical observation.

According to the city’s Emergency Medical Center 115, three ambulances were deployed — two from the center and one from Gia Định People’s Hospital — after a blaze erupted at a ground-floor snail noodle shop on Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.

Six Victims Taken to Hospital

Paramedics treated and transported six victims from the scene.

Two young women, aged 18 and 21, arrived at the emergency department conscious but requiring close monitoring and further evaluation. Both were later transferred to Gia Định Hospital for continued care.

The remaining four victims were in critical condition upon rescue. Despite aggressive resuscitation efforts by teams from Saigon General Hospital and Children’s Hospital 2 — including the activation of ECMO — medical staff confirmed all four had died due to cardiac arrest prior to hospital admission. The deceased include:

• a 40 year old woman
• a 35 year old woman
• a 7 year old girl
• a 2 year old boy

The incident has been reported to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

Firefighters Rescued Five People Using Ladder Truck

Local authorities confirmed that five people were trapped inside the building when the fire broke out around 4:00 AM. Firefighters from the city’s PC07 fire and rescue force used a ladder truck to reach the upper floors and pull the victims from heavy smoke.

Witnesses and nearby residents had attempted to extinguish the flames before emergency crews arrived but were unable to contain the blaze.

Cause Under Investigation

Officials from Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward said police and specialized investigative units are working to determine the cause of the fire. Ward leaders remained at the scene throughout the morning to coordinate rescue, support families, and secure the area.

Early reports indicate the fire started on the first floor of the small restaurant, though the source of ignition has not yet been identified.