Hanoi authorities on Tuesday started demolising the upper floors of a house under construction because it was deemed a threat to nearby houses.

The four-story house on Bach Dang Street in Hoan Kiem District was leaning around 30 degrees to one side, Tien Phong reported.

Dang Xuan Ky, a local official, said the authorities will have contractors break the house from the top and the family will have to reinforce its foundation from scratch and rebuild the house to a lower height.

The house owner, Tong Cong Thang, has also issued a written commitment to his neighbors that he would strengthening the house and lower its height.