9-8-2023 (PARIS) Eleven individuals have tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire at a holiday lodging in Witzenheim, eastern France. The victims were part of a group of adults with learning disabilities who were enjoying a holiday at the facility. The fire, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, left authorities and onlookers stunned by the extent of the disaster.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who visited the scene, expressed her deep sadness and described the incident as appalling. The local fire service was alerted to the blaze at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time, and despite the intensity of the flames, firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control.
The prefecture of the Haut-Rhin region confirmed that 17 people were successfully evacuated from the building. One individual has been hospitalized, and another was treated for shock. However, the remaining victims, initially reported as unaccounted for, were found deceased within the premises.
The holiday lodging in Witzenheim catered to individuals with disabilities and their companions. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating, “In Wintzenheim, the flames ravaged a lodging which accommodated people with disabilities and their companions. In the face of this tragedy, my thoughts go out to the victims, to the injured and to their loved ones.”
Un incendie à Witzenheim (Alsace) aurait fait 11 victimes dans un gîte pour personnes handicapées.
Plutôt que de se bousculer pour la dissolution de Civitas, nos intellectuels du gouvernement pourraient améliorer les infrastructures pour les personnes les plus vulnérables. pic.twitter.com/zNK72cDpVi
— Jean Timand â“©???????????? – ???????????????? (@JeanTimand) August 9, 2023
Christophe Marot, the secretary-general of the Haut-Rhin prefecture, confirmed that a total of 28 people were inside the building when the fire broke out. Unfortunately, it appears that all of the victims were present in the lodging and were unable to escape. Those on the ground floor managed to evacuate swiftly, but those on the upper floor were unable to do so.
The holiday lodging was rented by an association that supports individuals with learning difficulties. The traditional semi-timbered building, designed in the style of the Alsace region, suffered severe damage as a result of the fire. The roof was destroyed, and the charred wooden framework was visible on the first floor.
Firefighters continued their efforts to extinguish any remaining hotspots and clear wreckage from the scene. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined, and regional prosecutors will open an investigation to shed light on the tragic incident.
Prime Minister Borne expressed her condolences to the victims and their families and commended the efforts of the firefighters who responded to the emergency.
