King Kong Statue Suddenly Bursts Into Flames At Vietnam Movie Premiere

This King Kong terror was all too real.

A large model of the movie beast erupted into flames Thursday at the premiere of “Kong: Skull Island ” in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, outlets reported.

The blaze started  while dancers performed around a fire on a stage next to the theater, VN Express noted. One of the entertainers apparently left behind a torch  that ignited, AFP news agency said, citing the company that operates the property.

But other outlets such as Sky News indicated the source of the inferno was a simulated erupting volcano that was part of the “Kong” display. Fire crews extinguished the blaze in about 15 minutes.

Spectators at first thought the fire was part of the show  before the danger of the situation became apparent, Australia’s 9NEWS wrote. The entire immediate area outside the Vivo City shopping mall burned down, it added.

No injuries were immediately reported, VNExpress noted.

The show did go on. Attendees, including U.S. Consulate officials, were later ushered into the theater for the screening.

“Kong: Skull Island,” the latest reboot featuring the giant gorilla King Kong, was shot in Vietnam, Australia and Hawaii.