Fire broke out last night at the Saigon premier of Kong: Skull Island, causing momentary panic as spectators fled the blaze.
According to VnExpress, the fire occurred just after 7pm as dancers were performing on a VND1 billion (US$43,860) stage specifically constructed for the event. The blaze quickly spread to a five-meter statue of King Kong in the background, causing alarm among the premiere’s attendees, who included Vietnamese and American consular officials.
No injuries were reported in the incident, however the size of the fire sent many onlookers running. Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after the blaze began and brought it under control around 15 minutes later.
The film’s much-anticipated premiere screening still managed to take place indoors at 7:30pm.
South Korean entertainment firm CGV has high hopes for Kong: Skull Island, parts of which were filmed in Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Quang Binh province’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. According to Zing, the theater expects Skull Island to bring in as much as US$1.5 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend in Vietnam.
Kong: Skull Island officially opens in theaters today and stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson.
[Video via YouTube user Bi Mat Vbiz]
