Children leap from fire which kills nine

Updated 12.58 Mon Feb 04 2008
Keywords: Germany, fire, Ludwigshafen

A fire in an apartment block in western Germany has killed nine people, five of them children.

Police and firemen who were celebrating a carnival nearby rushed to the building in Ludwigshafen as adults and children jumped out of windows to escape the flames.

Adults and children jumped out of windows to escape the flames at the building in Ludwigshafen

Twenty people are being treated in hospital with injuries though none of them are in a life-threatening condition, according to emergency services.

Officials said it was possible more bodies would be found as it was not clear how many people were inside when the fire broke out.

Reports suggest the building was packed with people celebrating and watching the carnival.

Police are uncertain what caused the fire at the building where 52 Turkish nationals lived.

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