Authorities said the bar had been crowded with young partygoers.
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“There wasn’t an explosion, it was candles used for a birthday party”, a senior police official told AFP.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in a tweet (in French): “Heavy despair regarding the disaster which mowed down 13 youthful lives”.
The local Paris-Normandie newspaper said the fire ignited in the basement of the bar, which was rented for the evening for the birthday celebration. The fire started late Friday night or shortly after midnight.
[Photo by Kamil Zihnioglu/AP Images] Polystyrene is significantly flammable, and when it burns, it releases noxious gas into the environment.
One witness described the scene to France 24: “I said to my friend, come on, let’s take a place on the terrace”. We saw the smoke and the flames, the chairs flew up, the window.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Investigators revealed the fire is thought to have started in a basement. “Unfortunately, those who were in the basement didn’t have time to get upstairs”.
Deputy prosecutor Labadie said autopsies on the victims would be carried out next week. Dozens of people – majority young people – were inside the building.
“But she didn’t listen” the weeping woman explained, adding that her daughter had wanted to become a nurse.
Burned seats are pictured in the bar where a fire broke in Rouen, western France, Saturday Aug.6, 2016.
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The death toll is reportedly expected to rise, with numerous deaths reportedly being caused by the inhalation of toxic chemicals emitted from the soundproofing material.
