Home of young people with disabilities catches fire in France; 9 dead

At least 9 bodies have been found with two others feared deceased after a fire erupted in a holiday home for disabled people in the Winztzenheim town of eastern France, with firefighters eventually extinguishing the potent blaze.

Local government Haut-Rhin earlier said in a statement that four fire engines and 76 firefighting personnel are on the scene making efforts to extinguish the fire.

The fire erupted at a welfare facility being used to help young people with disabilities. Emergency services received reports about the horrific incident at 06:30 local time that occurred in a town close to the German border.

Reports suggest that 17 people were evacuated with one transported to the hospital.

Interior Minister Darmanin earlier said that it was likely there are several casualties from the fire.

According to AFP, the local government said that the fire was under control.

The head of the Bas-Rhin prefecture in eastern France said the people missing in the fire were now considered "potentially deceased", according to AFP.

Christophe Marot said the people who were inside the building when the blaze broke out have not been found.

"Unfortunately, there is little doubt: all these people were present in the lodging and could not get out," he told reporters.

"People on the ground floor were able to quickly leave the premises but not those upstairs," he said.

The fire department said the lodging was rented by an association in that helps people with learning difficulties.

"The traditional semi-timbered building, built in the style of the Alsace region, was severely damaged by the fire," according to the firefighters.

At mid-morning, the firefighters were dousing the scene of the disaster with the help of fire hoses, AFP reported.

The roof was destroyed by the flames and, on the first floor, the charred wooden framework was visible.

Other firefighters were clearing wreckage away from the scene of the disaster with smoke still rising up.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, she would head to the scene after the "terrible" fire.

"My first thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. I hail the mobilisation of the firefighters," she added.

Marot said those missing were 10 people with light learning difficulties and one supervisor.

He said there was no indication of the cause of the blaze and added an investigation would be opened by regional prosecutors.