Milan apartment fire kills 75-year-old woman

A 75-year-old woman died on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after a fire broke out in her second-floor apartment on via Demonte in central Milan. The fire, which started shortly before 1:30 PM, spread rapidly, leaving the resident with no way to escape.

Firefighting teams from the central station and Sesto San Giovanni responded to the scene. While they worked to contain the blaze, residents on the floor above were evacuated due to heavy smoke. Medical personnel provided assistance to those evacuated, though no hospitalizations were required for the neighbors.

Investigators from the regional fire brigade's investigative unit (Niat) are examining the cause of the fire. During the inspection of the apartment, where the woman lived alone, firefighters discovered three medical oxygen tanks, one of which was affected by the fire. Cleanup and recovery operations are ongoing.