Police: Four-year-old Airlifted After Flat Fire in Filakovo

Filakovo, 11 July (TASR) - A fire that broke out on the first floor of an apartment building in Zeleznicna Street in Filakovo (Banska Bystrica region) on Saturday morning prompted the evacuation of residents, and several people, including a four-year-old child, suffered smoke inhalation, Banska Bystrica local police spokesperson Petra Kovacikova told TASR on the same day. The child was resuscitated at the scene before being airlifted to hospital. "Our colleagues from Filakovo tried to assist firefighters with the evacuation, but the thick smoke prevented them from doing so. Several residents suffered smoke inhalation, and a number of people, including children, required treatment from paramedics and transport to hospital," Kovacikova said. She added that the condition of the four-year-old child was critical. Emergency responders, including a police officer from Filakovo, successfully resuscitated the child before an air ambulance transported the patient to hospital in Banska Bystrica. Air Transport-Europe (ATE) said on social media that the injured child, a young girl, sustained an inhalation injury in the fire. After the helicopter landed, the attending doctor provided additional treatment at the scene before she was transferred on board and flown in a stabilised condition to the Children's Faculty Hospital with Polyclinic in Banska Bystrica for further diagnosis and treatment. According to Kovacikova, the cause of the fire has not yet been established. "The Lucenec investigator has opened a criminal investigation into the suspected offence of general endangerment with respect to the fire," she added, noting that all the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. mf