Seven die, including children, in fire at flats in Nice - arson suspected
People wearing balaclavas were spotted near the building at the time of blaze. Victims are reported to be from the same family
The blaze affected the 90 m² flat on the top floor. The building is located in the Moulins district, close to Nice's airport
Christopher BELICCHI / X / Screenshot from Google Maps
Seven people, including three young children, have died after a blaze, suspected to be arson, broke out in a block of flats in Nice.
Two other people are in a critical condition in hospital.
The fire broke out on the top seventh floor of the block in the western suburb of des Moulins, near the airport, at around 02:30 Thursday (July 18) morning.
The cause is under investigation but officials believe it was started deliberately.
Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi told public service media France Info that “people wearing balaclavas” were spotted near the building around the time of the incident.
Authorities later confirmed they were looking for three people seen entering the building wearing balaclavas, shortly before the fire began. There are reportedly photos of the three individuals entering the building, however these have not been released.
On social media, Mr Estrosi asked the government “to mobilise the security forces to ensure the safety of the inhabitants and avoid any further acts after this tragedy.”
Head of the current caretaker government Gabriel Attal, and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin are on their way to visit the building.
Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department, Hugues Moutouh said the fire is believed to have started lower down in the building and to have risen to the seventh floor. It is not clear if it was targeted at the family or other residents.
Victims all from same family
A total of 72 firefighters tackled the blaze, using 25 engines to help them put out the fire.
They managed to save the lives of five people trapped in the upper floor of the building but were unable to reach the seven who died.
The victims – two women, a man, a teenager, and three young children aged five, seven, and 10 – were all in the 90m² flat and reported to be part of the same Comorian (from Comoros) family.
One died after jumping out of a window in an attempt to escape the flames.
Another person jumped out the window of a different flat in the block, but survived because they threw their mattress out first and used it to break their fall.
Two other people were transported to hospital. It is not known if they were in the same flat as the others.
One is said to be in a critical condition and the other is in a severe but not life-threatening state.
Photos of the fire, shared by the deputy mayor of the city, can be seen below.
