Three men and two women have died after a fire ravaged a 1970s apartment building in Strasbourg overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
Seven other people have been hospitalised as a result. The identification of the victims was still in progress on Thursday morning. The victims were aged between 25 and 70.
Fire fighters were called to the seven-floor building at 1am after reports of thick smoke in the stairwell. Two women aged 25 and 70, as well as two 30 year old men and another aged 45, were confirmed to have died instantly, due to the smoke spreading and the intensity of the heat, said to have melted the walls.
The building was said to be in fairly good condition and not dilapidated prior to the incident.
One of the seven people in hospital is a pregnant woman, according to director of the Grand-Est prefecture Dominique Schuffenecker, who was interviewed by AFP.
Residents in the building told fire fighters the blaze was caused by an electrical issue, describing a strange sound and immediate power cut. An investigation has been launched into the details.
However, according to a police source, two men in their 50s were taken into police custody.
A witness in a neighbouring building described smoke emitting from both sides of the building, with people stuck inside their apartments and trying to escape through the windows.
The evacuees were brought to a gymnasium. Nine will have to be relocated due to building damage, while a psychological emergency unit was activated to support the affected residents. The incident was dealt with by 48 fire fighters.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted a message of support and condolences for those affected, while paying tribute to the emergency services who bravely intervened.
