Six people have died and more than 80 were injured after a fire swept through a care home in Milan overnight.
The blaze began shortly after 1am on Friday in Casa dei Coniugi, home to 167 residents.
The fire chief, Nicola Miceli, told Rai News the fire was believed to have started in one of the bedrooms before spreading through the first floor.
Five women and one man died. Two were killed by the flames; four died of smoke inhalation.
Four teams of firefighters were continuing to work to extinguish the blaze, which was first reported by a service worker.
Miceli said: “It was very complex as the smoke limited the visibility.”
The injured, who were experiencing intoxication, had been taken to hospital, where two were reported to be in a serious condition.
The Milan mayor said the fire had caused a heavy toll. “We hope those who are in hospital in a delicate situation will not be added to the toll,” Giuseppe Sala told reporters.
Sala said: “Residents had to be carried out one by one. Work is being done to quickly relocate people who are very often not self-sufficient.”
The care home is in a building owned by the local authority but is privately run.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation.
