This is the dramatic moment firefighters forced opened an overloaded elevator to free people who were stuck inside.

Residents started panicking after they reached the ground floor and the elevator doors were jammed in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 29.

Onlookers were able to create a small gap to let the air inside while they waited for the rescue team who arrived after almost half an hour.

The firefighters then used a power tool to pull the gates apart and let the trapped residents out one by one.

Onlooker Ha Alex said he was on his way home when he saw the fire truck on the road and went inside the building to find out what happened.

The people stuck inside the elevator for almost 30 minutes before the rescue came.

He said: "I want to warn everyone when using the elevator beyond the specified number of people. It is one of the reasons that is being investigated why the elevator jammed."