A Victorian seafront hotel has been "engulfed in flames" after a fire broke out in its basement.
Eastbourne's Grade II* listed Claremont hotel was evacuated after the blaze started at about 08:50 gmt. The Pier hotel has also been evacuated.
About 60 firefighters and 12 engines were sent to the scene.
Six people have been treated for minor injuries, with one taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties, the ambulance service said.
All those who were in the hotel when the fire started have been accounted for, east sussex fire and Rescue Service said.
Nearby residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed. Roads in the area have been shut.
Flames spread from the basement of the Claremont and could be seen coming out of windows and the roof.
'Significant damage'
"The building has been seriously damaged and will need to be examined by building experts before a decision is made about its future," a fire service spokesman said.
He said {the fire|the hearth|the fireplace} had been brought under control and the fire service was "scaling back the operation".
The owners of the hotel, Daish's Holidays, said the "significant damage" to the hotel was "devastating".
The company said 130 guests and staff members had been in the building when the fire broke out.
A spokesman said the hotel had arranged return travel home for all guests and was contacting guests who had future bookings.
No comments:
Post a Comment