Cladding questions arise in Milan’s 20-story building blaze

Smoke billows from a building in Milan, Italy, on Sunday. Firefighters were battling a blaze that spread rapidly through a recently restructured 60-meter-high, 16-storey residential building. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. AP/LUCA BRUNO
Smoke billows from a building in Milan, Italy, on Sunday. Firefighters were battling a blaze that spread rapidly through a recently restructured 60-meter-high, 16-storey residential building. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. AP/LUCA BRUNO

MILAN – Italian firefighters tackled hot spots on Monday in a 20-story apartment building here that was destroyed by fire but said there were no indications that anyone was missing inside, as questions arose about the cladding that witnesses said rapidly fueled the fire.

Some cases of smoke inhalation were reported from Sunday’s blaze, but no serious injuries or deaths.

The fire that sent up a huge plume of black smoke visible for kilometers recalled the deadly fire that swept through Grenfell Tower in London in 2017, killing 72 people.

In that case, the cladding on the outside of that building was blamed for the speed at which the fire engulfed the block, and officials noted similar issues in the Milan fire.

Firefighting official Giuliano Santagata said the blaze was under control, although there were still outbreaks in some apartments that were being systematically put out.(AP)

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