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Fire in Latvia care home kills 26 Fire in Latvia care home kills 25
(about 9 hours later)
A fire at a home for the elderly and disabled in western Latvia has killed at least 26 people. A fire at a home for elderly and disabled people in western Latvia has killed at least 25 people.
Firefighters were called overnight to the facility in the town of Alsunga, west of the capital Riga, and found the entire building ablaze. Firefighters called overnight to the home in Alsunga, west of the capital, Riga, found the entire building ablaze.
The roof collapsed as rescue workers helped several dozen people to safely escape, reports say. The roof collapsed as rescuers led 66 people out, hampered by temperatures of minus 30C and by the fact that most residents were severely disabled.
The fire is now under control. Its cause is still unclear, but officials say an electrical fault is suspected. It is believed to be the worst fire disaster in the Baltic republic since independence in 1991.
All of the victims are said to have been residents of the home. The fire broke out soon after midnight and firefighters took several hours to bring it under control.
No cause of the blaze has been established yet. The authorities have declared a national day of mourning next week, on Wednesday.
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has expressed her condolences, saying the fire was "a tragedy for all Latvia".