Violent fire in the Rhône, at least 10 dead, including 5 children

The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. on Friday in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon. 170 firefighters are mobilized with 65 devices.

Par Le Point.fr

170 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the flames.
© ARTHUR NICHOLAS ORCHARD / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP

Published on 16/12/2022 at 07:05
– Modified 16/12/2022 at 07:51

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Vaste fire in Vaulx-en-Velin, near Lyon. The flames broke out shortly after 3 a.m. in a seven-story building. The fire killed at least ten people, including five children, according to the prefecture. Four other victims are in absolute emergency, and ten people are slightly injured, including two firefighters. The fire is extinguished, still according to the press release from the prefecture. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

The firefighters were very quickly on the spot, while many people called them. The Rhône prefecture announces on Twitter that it is activating the “many victims” plan, and has opened a departmental operational center. A security perimeter is in place. The Minister of the Interior reacted this morning: “It’s a shock given the extremely serious balance sheet,” he said. There are “several hypotheses on the origins of the fire”, and an investigation is opened by the prosecution. Gérald Darmanin affirms for his part that “there were only victims in this building, no injuries” among the police and firefighters”, contrary to the first words of the Rhône prefecture. He also confided that he met regularly at night with the President of the Republic.

A major fire has been declared in Vaulx-en-Velin since 3am.

A security perimeter is in place to allow the intervention of the @SDMIS, @SamuDeLyon and some @PoliceNat69.

The Prefect activated a departmental operational center and the plan for numerous victims. pic.twitter.com/HYcoCpOs07

— Prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Rhône region (@prefetrhone) December 16, 2022

Other victims would be injured, including several in absolute emergency. A total of 170 firefighters are mobilized on site with 65 devices. Prefect Pascal Mailhos, Mayor Hélène Geoffroy and Prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet also visited the site. Gérald Darmanin announced that he would go to Vaulx-en-Velin in the morning with the Minister of Housing, Olivier Klein.

More information to come…