14 November 2010

Fire kills seven at migrants' residence in France

PARIS (Reuters) - At least seven people were killed and more than one hundred injured in a fire at a residence for immigrant workers in the French city of Dijon late Saturday, city authorities said.



The fire began in a dustbin on the ground floor of the nine-storey building, the mayor's office said Sunday.

"The winds were unfavourable, blowing the flames against the wall of the building," an official at the mayor's office said.

Some of the victims suffered smoke inhalation and others were injured trying to escape, with some jumping out of windows. Four were in a critical condition.

The residence, in the Fontaine d'Ouche area of the city, is owned by housing operator Adoma and can accommodate 180 residents. At the time of the fire, 141 people were inside the building. Twenty-one children were among the injured.

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