Fire in block of flats in France kills 10, including five children 

A fire in a block of flats near Lyon, France has killed 10 people including five children.  

The seven-story building had a “sizeable fire” according to officials, who said four other people are in critical condition and 10 others have minor injuries. 

The fire has now been extinguished – it took 170 firefighters battling the flames to put it out. 

It’s believed the fire started on the ground floor and worked its way up the building. 

Olivier Klein, the minister delegate of cities and housing for the Borne region, tweeted on Friday morning: “The provisional tally sends chills down your spine.”

Gerard Darmanin said the cause of the fire is still unknown and praised the work of the firefighters who rescued people in “extremely difficult conditions.” 

The children who died were all aged between three and 15, the minister of the Interior Darmanin said. 

He also said an inquiry into what started the fire would start later on Friday. He had spoken to President Emmanuel Macron throughout the night. 

‘Awakened by the screams’ 

A local resident told Le Progres de Lyon newspaper: “I was awakened by the screams… We wanted to help people but the smoke was too heavy. I saw a dead woman… It’s dramatic.”

Another neighbour said: “I told my kid not to go to school, he’s shocked. It traumatised him to hear screams like that, screams of horror. My legs are shaking.”

The block of flats where the fire started is part of a housing project in the Lyon suburbs. 

The neighbourhood has a bad reputation due to urban decay and crime – but is undergoing a multi-million euro renovation.