Six killed in fire at nursing home in Milan, Italy

milan — Firefighters said a fire at a nursing home in Milan early Friday morning left six dead and a “large number” of residents hospitalized.

The fire brigade announced on Twitter, “Six people died and many were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. Dozens of people were rescued by firefighters who immediately evacuated the building.”

AFP photographers saw the bodies of two of the victims being removed from a three-story building in southern Italy, where 210 people were said to live.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, according to firefighters.

Five of the victims were women aged between 69 and 87, and the sixth was a 73-year-old man, according to AGI.

Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said the fire appeared to have started in a room occupied by two female residents, who died, according to ANSA news agency.

The fire did not spread beyond the room, but the smoke killed four other residents, and two others fought for their lives.