Fire in Canet-en-Roussillon forces 90 people from homes

A fire broke out in a ground-floor shop in Canet-en-Roussillon, southern France, during the night of October 17-18.

Smoke spread into the six-storey building above and nearby properties, so 90 people were evacuated as a precaution.

The shop was destroyed, but no one was injured or needed hospital treatment.

Restaurant owner Lulu opened his nearby restaurant, giving evacuees water and coffee while they waited for help.

By about 8 a.m., most residents had returned home, while others were being assisted by the town with accommodation.

An investigation is under way to establish what caused the fire, and firefighters continued clearing debris and checking the area.