Tragic Fire Engulfs French Holiday Home

A devastating fire in a holiday home for the disabled in southwest France resulted in at least one death and four missing persons presumed dead. Firefighters battled the blaze while investigations into the cause, suspected to be accidental, are underway.

A fire engulfed a holiday home for people with disabilities and their carers in southwest France, killing at least one person and leaving four others missing and feared dead, authorities confirmed. One individual sustained critical injuries in the incident.

The fire broke out at approximately 4:30 am, destroying a section of the guest house in Montmoreau, situated in the Charente region. The local prefecture reported the incident. Two dozen fire engines and around 80 firefighters were dispatched to combat the flames, which caused parts of the roof to collapse and expose charred beams.

Sniffer dogs did not detect any signs that the four missing individuals had escaped the inferno, according to Jean-Charles Jobart, secretary general of the Charente prefecture, speaking to BFMTV. "Most of them are surely still under ruins, doubtless dead," he remarked. While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, it is currently considered to likely have been accidental.

(With inputs from agencies.)