Nine die in fire

Nine people, including five children, have been killed in a fire in a house in the western German city of Ludwigshafen, police said last night. A further 24 were taken to hospital, two of whom were in a life-threatening condition, and it was possible that more bodies would be found in the house, which was in danger of collapse. It was unclear what had caused the fire.

Fifty two people, mostly Turkish citizens, were registered as living in the house.