House fire in France kills five children

Authorities say five young siblings have died after a fire erupted in a home in northern France.

Rescue team official Thierry Oberlin told France-2 TV today that the children’s father escaped the inferno late yesterday in the town of Saint Quentin, about 150 kilometres north of Paris.

Oberlin says the father, who reportedly sustained light burns, contacted a neighbour who alerted authorities.

French media, citing unidentified local authorities, reported that the children were aged 2 to 10. A top local government official did not immediately respond to messages.

Separately, authorities said another fire erupted overnight in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers, killing three people and injuring 13.

—-PTI