Dutch town buries first cafe fire victims

The first of the 10 young victims of a New Year fire at a Dutch café was buried this morning.

The first of the 10 young victims of a New Year fire at a Dutch café was buried this morning.

The funeral of 18-year-old Mr Edward Jonk will be followed later in the day by those of three more victims, aged 16, 17 and 22.

All of the seven males and three females who died were in their teens or early 20s.

More than 180 people were hurt in the fire in the Het Hemeltje café when, packed with revellers, it went up in flames just half an hour into 2001.

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A total of 141 people - 40 of them under 16-years-old - remain in hospital, with 39 in intensive care. A spokesman for the local authority said the number in intensive care could rise since many of the injured had damaged lungs and needed help to breathe.

Two investigations are under way into the disaster, believed to have started when party-goers lit sparklers that ignited ceiling decorations and brought them down onto the revellers, many clad in flammable synthetic festive clothing.

Police confirmed their investigations into how the fire began involved the café owner, Mr Jan Veerman, but would give no further details.

Reuters