Prague apartment fire leads to eight rescues and street closures

Eight people were rescued from a burning apartment building on Francouzská Street in Prague on Saturday evening. The blaze, which originated in a first-floor apartment, prompted firefighters to declare the second of four emergency alert levels.

Emergency crews utilized aerial ladders to evacuate residents through windows and the building's interior. A woman approximately 70 years old was hospitalized with a hand injury, and a firefighter also required surgery for a hand injury sustained during the operation.

The fire was contained after 8:00 p.m., preventing further spread. The incident caused significant local disruption, resulting in the closure of Francouzská Street to vehicles and the suspension or diversion of tram lines 4, 21, and 22 for over two hours. Regular tram service resumed around 8:20 p.m. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.