
An entire apartment block in Villach, Carinthia, was evacuated after a fire broke out in the cellar early on Monday morning.
In total, 23 residents were evacuated, including three young children. Emergency services were alerted at around 4:30 a.m. when thick smoke began to spread from the cellar into the building’s stairwell.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered dense smoke pouring from the cellar and quickly began evacuating the building. Several teams, equipped with breathing apparatus, entered the cellar to locate the source of the fire, which was eventually found and extinguished. Once the fire was under control, the smoke was ventilated from the cellar, stairwell and apartments.
One person was treated with oxygen at the scene, and another was taken to hospital for further care. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation.