A building fire in Berlin suspected to be the cause of arson killed eight people late Tuesday afternoon. Four of the victims were children.
Apparently, many of the building's tenants were Arabic speakers who did not speak German, hampering rescue efforts. As a result, many of the victims were unable to follow fire department directions, according to <i>AFP</i>.
"Some residents headed straight into disaster," according to Albrecht Broemme, director of the city's fire department. "Running for the stairwell was a run toward death." Eight other people were injured in the blaze.
The fire is considered one of Berlin's deadliest since World War II, according to Broemme.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
News
