The Italian fire brigade said on Friday that six people were killed in a fire at a retirement home in Milan, noting that "numerous" residents were hospitalized as a result of smoke inhalation. 

"Six people killed, numerous suffering from smoke inhalation hospitalized. Dozens of people were saved by firefighters who immediately evacuated the building," the fire brigade said in a statement.

The cause of the fire in the building which houses 210 people is still unknown, the fire brigade added. 

🔴 #Milano, ore 1:20 #7luglio #incendio in casa di riposo in via dei Cinquecento. 6 persone decedute, numerosi intossicati ricoverati in ospedale. Decine le persone salvate dai #vigilidelfuoco che hanno immediatamente evacuato la struttura. Accertamento cause in corso pic.twitter.com/I8nJCxeSIM

— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) July 7, 2023

According to the AGI news agency, five of the victims were women aged between 69 and 87 years old, while the sixth was a 73-year-old man.

According to Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, the fire seemingly began in one of the rooms that housed two female residents, both of whom were killed in the blaze. 

Although the fire didn't engulf other rooms, the smoke caused four other residents to die. Two survivors were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. 

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