Title: Severe Fire Engulfs Residential Block in Sofia, Injuring Several Including Children
A catastrophic fire has swept through a residential block in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, leaving at least five people, including two children, hospitalized with injuries. The blaze, which broke out yesterday, engulfed the building in the Ovcha Kupel district, causing widespread panic and substantial damage.
Emergency services arrived at the scene to find the five-story building fully ablaze. Firefighters battled the inferno for hours before managing to bring it under control. "It was a massive fire, one of the biggest we’ve seen in recent years," said a spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Service.
Among the injured are two children aged 7 and 10, who were rushed to the nearby Pirogov Emergency Hospital in critical condition. Three adults, who sustained severe burns and smoke inhalation, were also admitted to the hospital. Their conditions are reported to be stable, but serious.
The fire started in one of the apartments on the third floor and quickly spread to neighboring units. Residents on the upper floors were forced to evacuate, with many descending from their smoke-filled apartments using ropes and ladders provided by firefighters. Some were seen escaping with their pets and a few belongings.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials have not ruled out a faulty electrical appliance. The building, which was built in the late 1980s, lacked a centralized fire alarm system, which may have hindered early detection and evacuation.
In another incident, a fire in a high-rise apartment block in the city center led to the evacuation of residents from the upper floors. No injuries were reported in that incident.
The city’s mayor has expressed his sympathy for the victims and their families, promising a full investigation into the cause of the fire and pledging to work towards improving fire safety measures in the city’s aging buildings.
