Rescuers are searching for dozens of people believed trapped inside a six-storey building ravaged by fire in the Vietnamese capital Ho Chi Minh City.
State-controlled media say the toll at the International Trade Centre building is likely to rise well above the confirmed 59 deaths.
Several state-controlled newspapers say the death toll could rise much higher.
"We have counted about 100 bodies on various floors of the trading centre, including one of a foreigner," the Lao Dong newspaper quoted firefighter Mr Nguyen Van Quy as saying.
Six staff members of the American International Assurance Co 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 says 46 bodies have been taken so far to the hospital, many burned beyond recognition. Only 10 had been identified, he said.
Several hundred weeping relatives anxiously waited outside the hospital's mortuary.
PA