Two migrants die in fire at disused Trieste warehouse used as shelter
A man and a woman died when fire swept through a disused Porto Vecchio warehouse in Trieste used by migrants on the Balkan route as a shelter, early investigations suggest a fire lit for warmth.
A man and a woman died after a fire broke out overnight in a disused warehouse at Trieste's Porto Vecchio, a site where migrants arriving via the Balkan route have taken shelter, Italian news agency ANSA reported. Firefighters, police and paramedics were sent to the scene; the two bodies, badly burned, were found as crews worked to put out the blaze, and part of a floor also collapsed in the fire.
The fire broke out at Warehouse 18 shortly after 22:45 on Sunday, 1 November, Il Gazzettino reported. Firefighters arriving at the three-storey building found thick smoke pouring from it; wearing breathing apparatus, they forced their way in at ground level, where flames had completely engulfed a wooden mezzanine that collapsed shortly afterwards.
While one team fought the fire, another searched the building's upper floors, cutting through barriers with shears and other tools. They found the two bodies on the first floor. Police, the carabinieri, forensic police and medical and legal personnel also attended the scene, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported. The nationalities of the two victims, described by Il Gazzettino as young migrants, had not been made public.
Early findings suggest the fire was started by a group of migrants lighting a fire to keep warm inside the warehouse, and that it spread rapidly through the building, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported. Other people in the warehouse were reportedly able to escape as the flames spread, while the two victims became trapped.
Once the fire was out, firefighters began clearing debris and burnt material from the ground floor, bringing in a tracked mini-excavator from their provincial headquarters to help. They also partially secured the structure, which had already been off-limits to the public for some time. The operation, which began at 22:45, ended at 07:45 on Monday morning, Il Gazzettino reported.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · ANSA, Il Gazzettino +1 A man and a woman died in a fire at a disused warehouse at Trieste's Porto Vecchio, used as a shelter by migrants on the Balkan route.
- 1 outlet · Il Gazzettino The fire broke out at Warehouse 18 shortly after 22:45 on Sunday, 1 November, and firefighters' operation ended at 07:45 on Monday, Il Gazzettino reported.
- 2+ outlets · ANSA, Il Fatto Quotidiano The two bodies were found, badly burned, on the building's first floor during the firefighting operation; a floor also collapsed.
- 1 outlet · Il Fatto Quotidiano Early findings suggest the fire was started by migrants lighting a fire for warmth, which spread rapidly through the building, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.
- 1 outlet · Il Gazzettino The victims' nationalities have not been made public.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
Trieste's Porto Vecchio, a former port complex, has become an informal shelter for migrants arriving in Italy via the Balkan route, despite being officially off-limits to the public. The fire highlights the risks faced by people sleeping in disused buildings without heating as temperatures drop, and is likely to add pressure on local authorities over the site's use and security.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- ANSA: ++ Incendio nel Porto Vecchio di Trieste, morti un uomo e una donna ++
- Il Gazzettino: Incendio divora un magazzino del Porto Vecchio, il rogo causa la morte di un uomo e di una donna
- ANSA: Incendio nel Porto Vecchio di Trieste, morti un uomo e una donna
- Il Fatto Quotidiano: Incendio nel magazzino-rifugio dei migranti della rotta balcanica: due morti al Porto Vecchio di Trieste
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What happened at Trieste's Porto Vecchio?
- A fire broke out overnight in a disused warehouse used as a migrant shelter, killing a man and a woman whose bodies were found on the first floor.
- What caused the fire?
- Early findings suggest migrants had lit a fire inside the warehouse to keep warm, and it spread rapidly through the building, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.
- Were the victims identified?
- No. They were described as young migrants, but their nationalities have not been made public.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.