At least eight die in Vietnam blaze

A fire raged through a building housing offices of foreign companies, shops and a popular disco in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City today, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100.

Police said more people were likely to be trapped inside the building, known as Intershop. At least one man was seen at a window trying to summon rescuers, but firefighters said they did not have the necessary equipment to reach him.

Firefighters were still unable to enter the six storey building – which has several floors of shops and about 50 offices – more than three hours after the fire erupted.

The building also housed the Blue Disco, the city’s most popular dance spot, which has been attacked in the state-controlled press in recent days for allegedly condoning “social evils” such as drug use.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon, is Vietnam’s southern commercial centre.