Austria: 11 perish in blaze

A fire that engulfed a home for the elderly in western Austria killed 11 people and injured six others.

When the blaze broke out yesterday in the town of Egg, there were 23 residents and two supervisors in the building, which also functioned as a nursing home, said Thomas Mair, a spokesman for Vorarlberg province government.

“There are 11 dead and six injured – three of them seriously,” Mr Mair said.

About 250 firefighters put out the blaze, Mr Mair said. He said firefighters were initially alerted around 6.45pm.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which started in a room of the first floor and quickly spread to the rest of the building, according to the Austria Press Agency.

APA said those who were killed had been especially in need of care and had died of smoke inhalation.

Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, who arrived in Egg last night, said: “It is a catastrophe, completely terrible,” APA reported.

He praised the “great work” of all those involved in the firefighting and rescue operation, and expressed hope that those who were injured would survive.

Vorarlberg’s governor Herbert Sausgruber said the province had been hit by a “tragic event ... a grave disaster”.

Austrian broadcaster ORF said the building was 140 years old and that thick smoke had hampered rescue efforts.

Egg, a town of around 3,500, is located at the western edge of the country in a region popular for skiing and hiking.