Elderly Resident Dies After Residential Building Fire Breaks Out, Emergency Crews Respond In Bucharest

Bucharest, Romania— A fatal residential building fire claimed the life of an elderly resident Wednesday night after flames swept through a fourth-floor apartment and forced evacuation of the entire block.

AGERPRES reported the fire started at 8:45 p.m. on Strada Drumul Taberei. Neighbors called 112 after smoke filled the stairwell. Flames were visible from the balcony. The building, a 10-story communist-era block housing 80 people, lost power.

Firefighters from ISU Bucharest deployed three engines and a ladder truck. They entered through thick smoke. The apartment door was locked from inside. Crews forced entry and found a 78-year-old woman unconscious in the living room.

Paramedics attempted resuscitation for 25 minutes. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said she lived alone and had limited mobility. Smoke inhalation was the preliminary cause of death. The body was taken to Mina Minovici Institute for autopsy.

Twelve residents were evacuated, including two children carried down by firefighters. One neighbor suffered mild smoke inhalation and was treated on site. Another fell while fleeing and sprained an ankle. The fire was contained to one apartment by 9:30 p.m.

Inspector General Daniel Vasile said the fire likely started from an unattended electric heater near curtains. The apartment had old wiring and no smoke detector. A gas canister inside complicated the operation. It was removed without exploding.

Neighbors said the woman had lived there for 40 years. One neighbor said she often left heaters on overnight. Another said the building association had requested electrical upgrades last year. No work was done.

Prosecutors opened an inquest for negligent homicide. Forensic teams collected the heater, socket, and burnt furniture for analysis. The apartment was sealed. The block's power was restored except for the affected floor.

Bucharest City Hall said it will inspect similar blocks for fire safety compliance. The mayor's office said 60 percent of old blocks lack detectors. The investigation continues.