France: Fire tears through building housing disabled young people
11 people missing after fire tears through building housing disabled young people in France
- The fire broke out at 6.30am local time in the French town of Wintzenheim
- Authorities said 17 people were evacuated, but 11 remained unaccounted for
Eleven people were missing after a fire broke out in a holiday cottage in eastern France, local authorities said on Wednesday.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said there were likely several casualties after the fire ravaged the cottage, which was hosting a group of disabled people.
The fire broke out at 6.30am local time in the town of Wintzenheim, a town in the Haut-Rhin department in north-eastern France, 15 miles from the German border.
Seventeen people were evacuated, one of which was sent to hospital, and the flames are understood to have been quickly brought under control.
However, authorities said 11 people were still missing, with search and rescue efforts on hold until the building could be made safe enough to enter.
Eleven people were missing after a fire broke out in a holiday cottage in eastern France , local authorities said on Wednesday. Pictured: A firefighter sprays water after a fire erupted at a home for disabled people in Wintzenheim near Colmar, eastern France, on August 9
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire which erupted at a home for disabled people in Wintzenheim near Colmar, eastern France, on August 9
The fire broke out at 6.30am local time in the town of Wintzenheim, a town in the Haut-Rhin department in north-eastern France, 15 miles from the German border
‘A fire took place early this morning in a structure welcoming disabled people in Wintzenheim, in the Haut-Rhin,’ Darmanin wrote on Twitter.
‘Despite the rapid and courageous intervention of the firefighters whom I salute, several victims are to be deplored. The intervention continues.’
A spokesperson for the Haut-Rhin prefecture said: ‘The fire was quickly brought under control despite the violence of the flames.
’17 people were evacuated. There are 1 person in relative emergency evacuated to the hospital and 1 shocked person. 11 people from the group of adults from Nancy are missing still on call,’ they added.
The deputy mayor, present at the site, told reporters that the fire likely started on the ground floor in an old renovated barn converted into a gîte (self-service accommodation typically found in France’s rural districts).
Its occupants were able to escape, but the flames quickly spread to the first floor.
Seventeen people were evacuated from the building (pictured), one of which was sent to hospital, and the flames are understood to have been quickly brought under control. However, authorities said 11 people were still missing, with search and rescue efforts on hold until the building could be made safe enough to enter
The cottage is on the grounds of the educational and pedagogical therapeutic institute (Itep) of La Forge (pictured) in Wintzenheim
The gîte is run separately to the adjoining educational and pedagogical therapeutic institute (Itep) of La Forge, local reports said.
The institute was hosting a group of ‘disabled adults with mild mental disabilities who had come from Nancy for the holidays,’ according to French media outlet DNA.
A significant emergency response has been deployed to the site, with local media saying 76 firefighters, four fire engines and 40 police officers were at the scene.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow…
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