France: Deadly apartment fire kills 10, including five kids

Lyon: Ten people, including five children—aged 3 to 15 years— have been killed early Friday morning after a horrific fire broke out at a residential building in Vaulx-en-Velin, near the French city of Lyon.

As per local media reports, the blaze started on the ground floor before spreading up the seven-storey building, following which four people were seriously injured, while 10 others reported minor injuries, including two firefighters. 

The fire, however, was extinguished after it was battled by 170 firefighters.

Officials released a statement saying a "sizeable fire" broke out in a seven-storey block of flats in Vaulx-en-Velin.

The children who died were all aged between three and 15, added officials.

The block of apartments where the fire broke out is part of a housing project in the Lyon suburbs. The neighbourhood has had a poor reputation for problems of urban decay and crime, but is undergoing a multi-million euro renovation.