17 Die in Paris Apartment House Fire

At least 17 people, including six children, died early Friday when a Paris building that housed African immigrant families caught fire, the BBC reported.

Some 30 people were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in a stairwell of the dilapidated seven-story building in Paris’ 13th district.

More than 200 firefighters from 22 stations around the city were called to the scene, helping many of the 130 people in the apartment block to escape. The fire was brought under control after about two hours.

The building reportedly was used by charitable organizations to house immigrants. Local residents said many of those living in the apartment block were from Senegal and Mali.

I heard children cry, families scream, Oumar Cisse told journalists after he was evacuated from the building. Some children were yelling for their mothers and fathers.

Firefighters said six children, including a baby, were among the dead.

The cause of the blaze is unknown, but a criminal investigation is under way.