Ten people, including five children aged between three and 15 years old, have been killed in a fire near the French city of Lyon.
The blaze broke out at a seven-storey residential building in Vaulx-en-Velin in the early hours of Friday, according to interior minister Gerald Darmanin.
Around 180 firefighters attended and a security cordon was put in place.
A photograph of the scene was posted on social media by minister delegate for cities and housing Olivier Klein.
The cause of the fire was not known at this stage, he said.
“There are several scenarios and a probe will be opened,” Mr Darmanin said, adding he was in touch with President Emmanuel Macron over the tragedy.
He went on: “I send my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.”
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A nearby resident, Mohamed, told local media: “I heard the sound of women and children screaming.
“I woke up my wife, I told her: ‘There is something serious’.”
Neighbour, Assed, said: “It was horrible to see. I was really shocked.
“I witnessed a woman who… threw her child to people. They managed to catch him.
“She then tried to jump. It went wrong. She died.”
Rida, another resident, said: “My kid, I told him not to go to school, he’s shocked, it traumatised him to hear screams like that, screams of horror. My legs are shaking.”
