Keystone-SDA
Six people died and eight others were injured in a fire at a restaurant in the town of Most in the northwest of the Czech Republic, emergency services said on Sunday.
This content was published on
January 12, 2025 – 11:04
(Keystone-ATS) “The fire spread extremely quickly after a gas heater was probably knocked over,” firefighters said on X.
The fire broke out late Saturday in a wooden terrace adjacent to the U Kojota (Chez Coyote) restaurant in the town of Most, about 70 kilometers northwest of the capital Prague. It was brought under control after midnight, firefighters said.
Regional police chief Zbynek Dvorak told Czech television that terrorism had been ruled out and noted that the fire was caused by negligence.
“Despite all efforts made, the fire had tragic consequences for six people,” firefighters said.
Eight other people were injured, six of them seriously, and were hospitalized with burns.
Five of them were admitted to Prague, two to Most hospital and one to a facility in the regional capital of Usti nad Labem, Petr Bures, director of the regional emergency service, told national television. .
“Some of them have very serious injuries and their lives are in danger,” Bures said.
“Great tragedy”
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told X that firefighters had evacuated around 30 people from the restaurant and an adjacent apartment building.
Six of the victims were found inside the restaurant, according to testimony on public television by a firefighter, Zdenek Blaha.
He said the first four fire trucks arrived six minutes after receiving the alert and found the restaurant in flames.
A total of 28 fire engines and 63 firefighters were needed to bring the fire under control.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala offered his condolences, calling the accident a “great tragedy” in a message on X.
