A devastating fire in the early hours of Thursday in Nice, southern France, has claimed the lives of seven people, including three young children and a teenager. Local authorities are investigating the blaze as a potential arson attack.

Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi revealed that surveillance footage clearly showed hooded individuals pouring petrol into a stairwell, igniting the fire. The flames engulfed the upper floors of an apartment block in the Moulins area, near Nice’s airport.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that three young children were among the victims and assured the public that police would thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this tragic event.

The fire began on the seventh floor of the building. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli stated, “I have opened an inquiry into acts of arson as the cause of death,” based on initial findings.

Local reports indicate that the seven victims were all members of the same family, with the deceased children aged five, seven, and ten. The other victims include a teenager, two women, and a man. Two family members attempted to escape through a window; one perished while the other remains in critical condition.

Witnesses described the horrific scene. One man, identified as Iftahou, told the Nice Matin website that he arrived while the fire was still burning and realized there was no hope for those trapped inside.

Najim Maecha, head of the Comorian community in southern France, said he knew the family, who had lived in Nice since about 2013.

Mayor Estrosi called the human toll of the disaster extremely high, noting that an additional 30 people suffered from smoke inhalation. He has requested the deployment of security forces to ensure residents’ safety and prevent further incidents amid the arson investigation.