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| Fire in Polish hostel 'kills 21' | Fire in Polish hostel 'kills 21' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a hostel for homeless people in north-western Poland, officials say. | At least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a hostel for homeless people in north-western Poland, officials say. |
| Another 20 were injured in the blaze in the town of Kamien Pomorski, 60km (37 miles) east of the border with Germany, which began in the middle of the night. | Another 20 were injured in the blaze in the town of Kamien Pomorski, 60km (37 miles) east of the border with Germany, which began in the middle of the night. |
| Many of the injuries were sustained as residents jumped from upper floors of the three-storey building. | Many of the injuries were sustained as residents jumped from upper floors of the three-storey building. |
| At least 77 people were registered at the hostel, waiting for the local authority to provide them with housing. | |
| Emergency teams are now sifting through the wreckage of the building. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. | Emergency teams are now sifting through the wreckage of the building. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. |
| Firefighters had to catch children thrown through windows by their parents Daniel Kopalinski, rescuer | |
| Prime Minister Donald Tusk broke off his Easter holiday to fly to Kamien Pomorski early on Monday to inspect the damage, determine what help was needed, and express his condolences. | |
| President Lech Kaczynski has meanwhile declared three days of national morning to start at midnight, and is also to visit the town. | |
| A government spokesman said it would ensure that none of the survivors were left without a roof over their head. | A government spokesman said it would ensure that none of the survivors were left without a roof over their head. |
| 'Too late' | |
| The fire broke out in the three-storey hostel at around 0100 (2300 GMT on Sunday) and spread rapidly. Witnesses said the building went up like a torch. | |
| Emergency teams are now sifting through the wreckage of the building | |
| "The fire spread at an incredible speed," Daniel Kopalinski, a member of the local emergency services told TVN24. | |
| "Firefighters had to catch children thrown through windows by their parents," he added. | "Firefighters had to catch children thrown through windows by their parents," he added. |
| One of the survivors said those inside were forced to jump because the rescuers' ladders had only reached the first floor. | |
| "I yelled to my sister on the second floor 'Jump, I will catch you', but she didn't. Then it was too late," Dariusz Janyszko told TVP. | |
| One of the injured is in a serious condition. Many, including one child, are suffering from burns and the effects of smoke inhalation. | |
| Officials said not all of those registered as residents of the hostel had yet been accounted for, and that the death toll might still rise. | Officials said not all of those registered as residents of the hostel had yet been accounted for, and that the death toll might still rise. |
| "It will take a couple of hours to search the entire site," fire service spokesman Pawel Fratczak said after the blaze was extinguished. | |
| Mr Fratczak said it would be difficult to identify many of the victims quickly because their bodies had been so badly burned. | |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fire? Send us your views. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fire? Send us your views. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |