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Ten people, including five children aged 3 to 15 years, have been killed after fire broke out at a residential building in Vaulx-en-Velin, near the French city of Lyon, early Friday morning.
- The early morning fire started on the ground floor before spreading up the seven-storey building
- Neighbours reported hearing screams and seeing heavy smoke
- The fire has since been extinguished with authorities yet to determine a cause
Another four people were seriously injured in the fire, which started on the ground floor before spreading up the seven-storey building, rescue authorities told local media.
"I was awakened by the screams," a neighbour, Mohamed, told Le Progres de Lyon newspaper.
"We wanted to help people but the smoke was too heavy.
"I saw a dead woman … It's dramatic."
The fire, which began about 3am, is now extinguished, but footage on social media showed a huge, dark cloud billowing above the building earlier in the day.
France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the cause of the fire was not known at this stage.
"There are several scenarios and a probe will be opened," he said, adding he was in touch with President Emmanuel Macron over the incident.
A security cordon has been set up at the site, the authority of the Rhone area said.
Around 180 firefighters were called to the site.
A neighbour, Rida, told Le Progres de Lyon: "I told my kid not to go to school, he's shocked," they said.
"It traumatised him to hear screams like that, screams of horror. My legs are shaking."
Reuters