Polish president Lech Kaczynski declared a three-day period of national mourning following a tragic fire in Kamień Pomorski, north-western Poland.
21 people died while 20 others were injured in the blaze which started in a social services hostel early Monday. According to local officials, at least 77 people were staying there at the time. The injured, many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation as well as broken bones as as result of their jumped from the three-storey building, were taken to nearby hospitals.
According to Paweł Frątczak, the spokesman for the Firefighting Services, the blaze resulted in vast devastation of the structure. Emergency teams are continuing to sift through the wreckage of the building which should take several more hours.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk flew to Kamien Pomorski this morning to see the scale of the damage and determine the help thatwoudl be needed.
The cause of the fire is yet unknown.
DI