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2nd LD Writethru: Pub fire in French city of Rouen kills at least 13

Xinhua, August 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 13 people were killed and six others injured in a bar fire in the French city of Rouen early Saturday, local media reported.

The victims were between the ages of 18 and 25, the Paris-Normandie newspaper said.

A private birthday party was being held in the basement of the Cuba Libre bar when the fire broke out, according to local authorities.

Local media said the fire may have been caused by candles lit on a birthday cake, which created toxic fumes that asphyxiated the victims and caused their death.

"It's a totally accidental fire ... in a basement probably too small for the number of people who were there," Rouen's Mayor Yvon Robert told Europe 1 radio.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the interior ministry said.

More than 50 firefighters put out the fire, it added in a statement.

On his Twitter account, Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed his "deep sadness at the tragedy that claimed 13 young lives." Endi