Fire Kills Four, Injures Four at French Disability Holiday Home

A devastating fire broke out early Monday at a holiday cottage in Montmoreau, southwestern France, which was hosting adults with learning disabilities along with their carers and the owners. The blaze resulted in at least four confirmed deaths, including one of the owners and three individuals with disabilities, while four others were injured and one remains missing, presumed dead under the rubble. The fire started around 4:30 a.m., initially in an adjacent building that had not undergone recent safety inspection, and authorities suspect an electrical malfunction as a possible cause. About 80 firefighters responded, bringing the fire under control after it destroyed significant portions of the property, including a guesthouse. Rescue efforts continue amid ongoing investigations by the National Gendarmerie Criminal Research Institute to determine the fire's origins and any safety lapses. Officials praised the bravery of one owner who entered the burning building in an attempt to save others but tragically lost her life in the process.