Poor settlement burns down: several children lose their lives in the flames

By Christoph Thanei

Velky Saris (Slovakia) - Five people, including four children, have died in a fire in eastern Slovakia.

After hours of extinguishing work, there is not much left of the houses in the estate.
After hours of extinguishing work, there is not much left of the houses in the estate.  © Veronika Mihalikov/TASR/dpa

According to the fire department , the fire broke out on Thursday night for unknown reasons in a poor settlement on the outskirts of the town of Velky Saris, which is mainly inhabited by members of the Roma minority.

A video published by the news agency TASR in the morning after the end of the extinguishing work shows that several container-like emergency shelters were completely burnt down. The police have not ruled out arson. Criminal proceedings have therefore been initiated for multiple homicide.

According to the fire department, the five dead were only found in one of the shelters after the fire had been extinguished.

It was not initially clear whether the four children and one adult were members of the same family.

A total of five people, including four children, died in the devastating inferno.
A total of five people, including four children, died in the devastating inferno.  © Veronika Mihalikov/TASR/dpa

During the firefighting operations, 18 other people were rescued from their homes.

The mayor of Velky Saris told TASR that a total of 30 people were affected by the consequences of the fire because their homes were now uninhabitable.