Four children die in apartment blaze in eastern France
A deadly fire ripped through a social housing block in the eastern French city of Mulhouse on Sunday night killing five, including four children.
Some reports claim the fire started in a stairwell at the block of flats in the Bourtzwiller neighbourhood of Mulhouse, while others suggest it began in the cellar.
Some 50 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze, but they could not prevent the deaths of five people, including four children.
Another eight people were injured and left needing hospital treatment. Three are believed to be in a serious condition.
? #Mulhouse : un incendie dans un immeuble HLM fait 5 morts (dont 4 enfants) et 8 blessés (dont 5 graves). RIP et pensées aux familles. ??? pic.twitter.com/mJtmQtZQ50
— GOSSIP ROOM (@GossipRoomOff) October 2, 2017
Authorities believe the victims died from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters managed to rescue another 20 occupants of the building via the windows of their apartments.
"It's terrible, the whole city has been shaken by this tragedy," Mayor Jean Rottner told AFP.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
"The building is in very good condition and is situated in a quiet housing project, with no particular problems," Rottner said.
Fatal fires at apartment blocks in France are not rare events.
In June last year five people were killed when a blaze ravaged a four-storey building in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis and in 2014 a blaze in an apartment in the Paris suburb of Sevran left three young sisters dead.
In 2005 a blaze at a Paris hotel that was being used to house immigrants left 20 dead.
Comments
See Also
Some reports claim the fire started in a stairwell at the block of flats in the Bourtzwiller neighbourhood of Mulhouse, while others suggest it began in the cellar.
Some 50 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze, but they could not prevent the deaths of five people, including four children.
Another eight people were injured and left needing hospital treatment. Three are believed to be in a serious condition.
? #Mulhouse : un incendie dans un immeuble HLM fait 5 morts (dont 4 enfants) et 8 blessés (dont 5 graves). RIP et pensées aux familles. ??? pic.twitter.com/mJtmQtZQ50
— GOSSIP ROOM (@GossipRoomOff) October 2, 2017
Authorities believe the victims died from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters managed to rescue another 20 occupants of the building via the windows of their apartments.
"It's terrible, the whole city has been shaken by this tragedy," Mayor Jean Rottner told AFP.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
"The building is in very good condition and is situated in a quiet housing project, with no particular problems," Rottner said.
Fatal fires at apartment blocks in France are not rare events.
In June last year five people were killed when a blaze ravaged a four-storey building in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis and in 2014 a blaze in an apartment in the Paris suburb of Sevran left three young sisters dead.
In 2005 a blaze at a Paris hotel that was being used to house immigrants left 20 dead.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.