According to a local witness, the blaze broke out at 7pm, destroying 10 kiosks including restaurants and grocery stores. The fire rapidly engulfed the kiosks that contained a lot of flammable materials, making people flee the area in panic.

Some locals said they heard loud explosions at the time when the inferno broke out.

Relevant units rushed to the scene to tackle the blaze when the fire alarm was raised, said a representative from Hoai Duc district People’s Committee.

Fire fighters, police and 10 fire engines were immediately mobilized to extinguish the fire. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.