Paris: Eleven people were killed in a devastating fire that tore through a vacation home for disabled adults in eastern France on Wednesday, according to the local deputy prosecutor.
11 people who were sleeping on the upper floor and in a mezzanine area of the private accommodation in the town of Wintzenheim were trapped by the fire, according to Nathalie Kielwasser, deputy prosecutor for Colmar, while five were able to escape.
She claimed that 12 residents of the ground floor were able to leave. She added that the adults, who had "slight intellectual disabilities," were taking a trip that was funded by two specialised organisations.
She added that investigations are still being conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire and whether the structure complied with all security requirements. One of the survivors, according to the authorities, was taken to a hospital with serious wounds.
Wednesday afternoon saw the arrival of French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. She stated that she wanted to express the government's support for the victims' families as well as the local firefighters and rescue workers.
The fire most likely started on the home's upper floor, according to Lt. Col. Philippe Hauwiller, who was in charge of the firefighters' rescue operations.
The building's upper portion was entirely made of wood and the ground floor was constructed of stone, which may help to explain why the fire spread so quickly.
The fire started at 6:30 in the morning, according to the Haut-Rhin region's local government. On the news programme France Info, the local administration's secretary general, Christophe Marot, stated that 10 people with disabilities and a companion were thought to be among the fatalities.
According to a statement from the Haut-Rhin prefecture, many of the visitors were from Nancy in eastern France. There was no additional information given about the victims.
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To put out the fire and treat the victims, the fire department sent out 76 firefighters, four fire engines, and four ambulances. Additionally, 40 police officers were mobilised. On Wednesday morning, the fire was brought under control.
On X, a social media website that replaced Twitter, French President Emmanuel Macron posted: "In the wake of this tragedy, my thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and their families. We appreciate our emergency services and security personnel.