France: 11 people missing as fire breaks out in holiday cottage
At least 11 people went missing after a fire broke out at a holiday cottage in which they were staying in France, media reports said on Wednesday.
Nearly 80 firefighters were sent to the blaze in Wintzenheim after emergency services were alerted at 06:30 local time on Wednesday, reports BBC.
It appears to have started in a property used by a charity helping young people with disabilities, the British media reported.
17 people have been evacuated from the cottage.
According to reports, one person was taken to hospital.
Un incendie s’est déroulé tôt ce matin dans une structure accueillant des personnes handicapées à Wintzenheim, dans le Haut-Rhin. En dépit de l’intervention rapide et courageuse des sapeurs-pompiers que je salue, plusieurs victimes seraient à déplorer. L’intervention se poursuit.
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 9, 2023
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote on X: "A fire took place early this morning in a structure welcoming disabled people in Wintzenheim, in the Haut-Rhin. Despite the rapid and courageous intervention of the firefighters whom I salute, several victims are to be deplored. The intervention continues."
