This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
On December 5, 2019, a devastating fire broke out in a six-storey college building in central Odessa, Ukraine, killing a 16-year-old female student and injuring 27 others.
As of Thursday morning, the blaze had been contained, but dozens of firefighters were still combing through the partly destroyed walls of the building.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the 14 missing people would be found safe and sound, but acknowledged that there may be more victims.
"We all hope that of the 14 missing people, as many as possible will be found safe and sound. But I do not want to deceive anyone -- there may be more victims," Zelensky wrote in a Facebook post.
Seven firefighters were among the injured, with five people in a serious condition. Zelensky, 41, expressed his concern for the injured, saying, "We all are praying" for them, and praising the doctors for their efforts to save them.
The authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, and the mayor of Odessa has announced two days of mourning on Thursday and Friday.
