At least 59 die in Vietnam fire

The number of people confirmed dead by the fire at the International Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City is 59 so far, however state owned media have predicted that the toll will rise much higher.

Scores of people were being treated in hospitals following the fire and media outlets have claimed to have counted at least 100 dead.

City officials said the fire was the city’s worst in terms of loss of life and property damage.

The Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper quoted firefighter Nguyen Van Quy as saying: “We have counted about 100 bodies on various floors of the trading centre, including one of a foreigner.”

Six staff members of the American International Assurance Company were still missing, a company official said. The company was training about 100 insurance agents at its office when the fire broke out yesterday afternoon.

A wedding reception was also being held in the building – which had several floors of shops, restaurants, a disco, and offices of many international companies. About 500 people were believed to be inside at the time.

An official of Military Hospital 175 said 46 bodies had been taken so far to the hospital, many burned beyond recognition. Only 10 had been identified, he said.

City officials said a Vietnamese-American and a Croatian had also been confirmed dead, while the US Consulate said there were unconfirmed reports that other Americans were still missing.