The local government disclosed, a fire in an apartment building near Lyon in France, has taken ten lives, including five children.
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| A seven-storey building in the city of Lyon, France on fire killed 10, including children. The cause of the fire is being investigated. Photo: AP/Laurent Cipriani via abc.net.au |
A “sizeable fire” started in a seven-story block of flats in Vaulx-en-Velin, according to a statement released by officials.
Two firefighters have reportedly sustained minor injuries as well as 10 others, and four people are in critical conditions.
It took more than 150 firefighters to kill the fire. Minister delegate of cities and housing for the region of Borne, Olivier Klein, tweeted: “The provisional tally sends chills down your spine.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown, said Gerard Darmanin, Minister of the Interior.
The Minister also hailed the the firefighters who fought the fire to rescue people in “extremely difficult conditions”, further saying that children who lost their lives were all between the ages of three and fifteen.
He assured that an inquiry into what caused the fire would be launched later on Friday.
A local resident opened up to Le Progres de Lyon newspaper: “I was awakened by the screams… We wanted to help people but the smoke was too heavy. I saw a dead woman… It’s dramatic.”
Another neighbour said: “I told my kid not to go to school, he’s shocked. It traumatised him to hear screams like that, screams of horror. My legs are shaking.”
