French President Jacques Chirac promised “strong initiatives” to help families in inadequate housing, and all havens for squatters were ordered shut down Tuesday in Paris after a second deadly fire in a week at an apartment house for immigrants.
The fire late Monday struck a dilapidated apartment building in the heart of historic Paris, killing seven African immigrants, firefighters said. Four children were among the dead, including a 6-year-old thrown by his pregnant mother from a fifth-floor window in an effort to save him.
It was the second deadly fire at buildings housing immigrants in France’s capital within a week–17 people were killed Friday in a blaze–and the third since April, bringing the death toll to 48 and focusing criticism on immigrant housing.
Chirac expressed his “horror” over the fire and promised “strong initiatives” soon to help families in inadequate housing.
