Rouen: A fire thought to have been
caused by the candles on a birthday cake killed 13 people at a bar in the
French city of Rouen and left at least six others injured, one critically.
Reports said the fire broke out in
the basement of the Cuba Libre where the private party was being held on Friday
night. At least six people were rescued and received treatment for injuries.
The victims were described as being aged between 18 and 25.
Authorities were describing the fire
as an accident, possibly started by candles on the birthday cake setting fire
to flammable material in the ceiling. As per latest news, one of the
party-goers was said to have stumbled while carrying a cake with lit candles
down the stairs to the lower floor. Flames spread quickly to polystyrene ceiling
tiles which gave off a cloud of noxious fumes that choked victims, who were
unable to escape.
“There was no explosion, but candles
used for a birthday party set light to the ceiling made of polystyrene, giving
off a gas that poisoned the victims,” a police official told the AFP news
agency.
More than 50 firefighters battled the
blaze at the bar in the city centre, said the French cabinet minister Bernard
Cazeneuve, praising their quick action after they arrived at 12.50 AM local
time.
The secretary general of the
prefecture of Seine-Maritime, Yvan Cordier, went to the bar and said emergency
services had “intervened very quickly”.
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