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CatastropheFrance

France: Deadly apartment fire kills 10, including 5 children

December 16, 2022

Authorities have said that the cause of the fire in a suburb of Lyon is still unknown. Nearly 180 firefighters were deployed to the scene, the deadliest residential fire in France in years.

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Police cars and firefighters cordon off area
The deadly fire at a residential building near the city of Lyon has now been extinguished Image: Olivier Chassignole/AFP/picture alliance

Ten people, including five children, were killed after a fire broke out on Friday morning at an apartment building in Vaulx-en-Velin, near the French city of Lyon, said officials.

14 people were injured in the fire that broke out on the ground floor before spreading up the seven-story residential building, rescue authorities told local media.

Four of those injured were in serious condition, authorities said.

The fire, which broke out around 3:00 a.m. (0200 GMT), has now been extinguished.

Nearly 180 firefighters had been deployed in the suburb.

Cause of fire to be determined

French Interior Interior Gérald Darmanin called the fire a "shock" and said the cause of the fire was still unclear.

"There are several scenarios and a probe will be opened," Darmanin said, adding he was in touch with President Emmanuel Macron over the incident.

Darmanin said he was headed to the town, which is 470 kilometers (290 miles) southeast of Paris. He will be accompanied by Housing Minister Olivier Klein.

Darmanin was headed to Lyon on Friday to present the security plan for Sunday's World Cup final game between Argentina and France.

Vaulx-en-Velin, a town of 43,000 inhabitants, is among the most impoverished areas in the Rhone region. 

The fire is the most deadly in France since 2019 when an arson attack on a Paris residential building killed 10 people and injured 32 others. 

rm, ns/es