Many Fear Dead, Others Injured in a Fire outbreak In a Basement

Emergency services pull survivors out of the fire outbreak that took place in Cuba Libre bar where private birthday party was being held in the basement.

A fire at a bar in Rouen has caused multiple deaths and injuries, 

A fire at a bar in the French city of Rouen has killed at least 13 people according to reports.

Reports said a fire broke out in the basement of the Cuba Libre bar where a private birthday party was being held. At least six people were rescued and receiving treatment for injuries.

Media outlets said it took 30 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the blaze after they were called in at 12.50am local time.

A news report on Paris-Normandie from the scene suggested a fire started after candles on the cake were lit at the height of the birthday celebrations, with the flames spreading into the ceiling.

The secretary general of the prefecture of Seine-Maritime, Yvan Cordier, went to the bar and said emergency services had “intervened very quickly”.

Yvon Robert, the mayor of Rouen, also attended, describing the fire as “the greatest catastrophe”.

Lawrence Labadie, local deputy prosecutor, told Paris-Normandie that the fire appeared to be an accident and residents who thought there was a blast had probably heard glass exploding.

Bernard Cazeneuve, France’s minister of the interior, said a judicial inquiry was under way into the cause.

Repoted: theguardian