The fire was provoked by an explosion in the center of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, near Perpignan. An investigation was opened to determine the causes of the tragedy.
Le Monde with AFP
A strong explosion resounded around 1:30 on the night of Sunday 13 to Monday, February 14 in one of the main arteries of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, in the Eastern Pyrenees, to a Fifteen kilometers from Perpignan. The fire, which ravaged buildings on both sides of the street, provoked the death of seven people, including two children, according to an ever-temporary assessment provided by the Prosecutor of the Republic of Perpignan, Jean-David Cavaillé .
“CTA-Codis agents [Departmental Fire and Rescue Operational Center] received a call following an explosion of a trade in the heart of the village which caused the fire of homes located above “, have announced the firefighters of the Pyrenees-Orientales in a statement on Monday morning.
Investigation for” Volunteer fire who resulted in death “
Rescue at first discovered five lifeless bodies in the rubble of buildings, whose ground floor were occupied by a grocery store and a fast food stand.
One man of thirty years had to be evacuated, in absolute emergency after trying to escape the flames by jumping from the window of one of the buildings affected by the fire. According to France 3 Occitanie , about twenty people were injured in the fire. “Our thoughts go to the victims and their families. We will mobilize to help them best in these most tragic circumstances,” said the town hall of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, 10,000 inhabitants, in a statement. .
An investigation for “voluntary fire, which resulted in death” was opened to determine the causes of the explosion, according to Mr. Cavaillé, who said he was “too early in the state to determine if the cause is accidental or criminal “. On the three buildings affected by the fire, two were inspected, while the third, unstable by the damage caused by the flames, is being secured to allow the aid to access it.
Darmanin goes on site
Several fire trucks were on site Monday morning to secure the places after controlling the fire during the night. The research operations focused on the two small buildings, made unstable by the damage caused by the flames.
The victims were evacuated by the firefighters to the village hall of the municipality located near the Mediterranean coast. According to the town hall, neighborhood residents had to be relocated.
The Minister Delegate to the Public Accounts, Olivier Dussopt, on trip Monday in the Pyrenees-Orientales, visited on the spot.
On the move in the Oriental Pyrenees with @ prefet66, we went to the place of the terrible expl … https://t.co/s0eo9gvyxy
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, also announced on Twitter It interrupted his trip to Montpellier to go on the spot. “I bring all my support to the services of the mobilized state and the inhabitants. Thoughts of the victims and their relatives,” wrote the minister.