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Firefighters respond to a house fire in Charly-sur-Marne, northern France
Photo: Francois Nascimbeni / dpa
A mother and seven children aged between two and 14 died in a house fire in northern France on Monday night.
The father of the family was rescued from the flames in Charly-sur-Marne with serious injuries, as the prefecture announced.
After several hours of extinguishing work, the emergency services could only save the other family members dead.
The fire brigade came with 80 people and 48 vehicles to fight the fire in the two-storey building.
Two residents of an adjacent house that was affected were brought to safety.
Tumble dryer as a fire trigger?
According to preliminary investigations, a defective tumble dryer could have caused the fire, the broadcaster France 3 reported, referring to the prefecture.
The father also provided the same information.
After discovering the fire, he brought the children upstairs.
After the power failure, however, the electric shutters could no longer be opened and it was impossible to jump out of the window to save them.
President Emmanuel Macron spoke of a tragic fire.
"The nation shares the shock and pain of the family and loved ones."
tfb/dpa
