At least 13 people have died after a fire broke out at a karaoke bar in Vietnam.
The blaze ripped through the eight-storey building in the capital city of Hanoi on Tuesday.
It quickly spread, burning neighbouring buildings and destroying cars and motorbikes parked in the street.
Firefighters took five hours to put the blaze out and two police officers were injured in the operation.
Vietnamese reports state the fire started when a sign board caught alight, and that staff tried in vain to contain the flames.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Zuan Phuc has issued a statement calling on the police to carry out a prompt investigation and punish anyone who broke the law.
He also demanded the closure of any karaoke bars and other facilities which do not meet fire safety requirements.
The full extent of the injuries suffered by other people is not yet known.
