Slovakia: Five dead, four of them children, after Romani settlement catches fire
A tragic fire destroyed eight homes in the Romani settlement in Veľký Šariš (Prešov district) on the night of Wednesday, 19 March and the early morning hours of today. The fire claimed five lives, including four young children.
The fire left approximately 30 people homeless. The town has declared a state of emergency and has provided emergency shelter to the evacuees, including several newborns, according to the Slovak News Agency (SITA).
The fire broke out around 10:20 PM in the Romani settlement. The flames destroyed eight residential units there.
“Many people tried to help, but due to the strength of the fire, it was not possible,” said Viliam Kall, the mayor of Veľký Šariš. The victims are four siblings age four or younger and a female relative of theirs.
The family and their neighbors confirm the victims were inside one of the units when the fire broke out. Approximately 30 people total have lost their homes.
“We placed 11 adults and seven children in an emergency community center, where we provided them with shelter, food, and warmth. Among those who needed to be cared for were babies who were only a few days old,” Kall said, according to SITA.
“This morning we convened a crisis team to discuss further steps – mainly securing accommodation and helping the affected families,” added the mayor. The fire was extinguished by 14 professional firefighters from Prešov with the assistance of volunteers from surrounding municipalities.
Investigators are working at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. A forensic pathologist has also been called to the scene.
The amount of material damage is not yet known.
