The city of Veľký Šariš has declared a state of emergency following a tragic overnight fire that claimed the lives of five people. Mayor Viliam Kall confirmed that among the victims were four children.
According to the mayor, the fire occurred on Wednesday night (March 19) in an area where a marginalized Roma community resides. "About eight homes, which we had identified, were burned down completely," he said.
The fire affected around 30 people. While some went to stay with their families, 11 adults and seven children were placed in a community center where they were provided with shelter and food. Further steps will be decided at a crisis staff meeting on Thursday. "We will need to provide assistance to people who lost their homes, clothing, and essentially everything. The goal is to take care of them," Kall added, mentioning that they would also need to address the removal of damages.
Rescue workers confirmed that five individuals were found without signs of life at the scene. According to the mayor, the victims included one adult and four children. "They were small children. The oldest was four years old," he said.
Source: TASR
