Homeless shelter fire: 8 dead

Eight people lost their lives in the fire that broke out in a homeless shelter in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic.

Police spokesman Pavel Svab told reporters that a fire broke out late at night at a shelter where mostly homeless people live in the Komarov district of Brno. Svab said 8 people died in the incident, suspicion was raised that the fire might have been started by another homeless person and a full-scale investigation into the matter was launched.

Local media reports indicated that medical teams did not find anyone else affected by the fire, apart from those who lost their lives at the scene.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives on Twitter, calling the incident a great tragedy.

Brno Metropolitan Mayor Marketa Vankova also shared a message of condolences, noting that what caused this tragic event was fully investigated. (AA)