Estonia mourns orphanage fire dead

Estonia began a day of mourning today for 10 disabled children who perished when a fire raged through their orphanage, AP reports.

Thirty-seven children and nine adults were inside the wooden building in the coastal town of Haapsalu when the fire started at 2.30pm yesterday, said Viktor Saaremets, a spokesman for the Western Estonia Rescue Services Centre.

"By the time rescue workers and firefighters arrived at the scene three or four minutes later the building was completely in flames," he said.

Ten children were killed and one adult was injured, Mr Saaremets said. Most of the victims were wheelchair-bound and unable to escape the rapidly spreading fire, he said.

The others were evacuated to a nearby building and were not hurt.

Estonian newspaper Postimees showed pictures on its website of flames tearing into a one-storey wooden building. Victims were carried out of a window as thick smoke billowed from the roof.

The Estonian government met for an emergency meeting after the blaze and declared today a nationwide day of mourning.