Six people died in a fire at a retirement home in the northern Italian city of Milan in the early hours of Friday, responders said, Ednews reports citing ANSA.
Italian news agency ANSA reported on Friday that 81 people were taken to a hospital.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told reporters that the fire was quickly extinguished, but the resulting fumes intoxicated several residents.
"Six people killed, numerous suffering from smoke inhalation hospitalized. Dozens of people saved by firefighters who immediately evacuated the building," the fire brigade said.
AGI news agency reported that five of the victims were women aged between 69 and 87 years old, and the sixth was a 73-year-old man.
Three of those hospitalized are in serious condition, according to Luca Cari, a spokesman for the national firefighters' service who was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.