Old people's home fire kills 11

Firemen eventually withdrew for fear of the building collapsing

A fire in an old people's home in Austria has killed 11 people and injured another six, three seriously.

The building, in the town of Egg, had 23 residents at the time. Only six emerged unscathed. They are now being accommodated elsewhere.

Some 250 firefighters tackled the blaze until they pulled back because of fears the building might collapse, the Austrian press agency reported.

Thick smoke in upper rooms had hampered their earlier efforts to find people.

This is a catastrophe, it is awful Alfred Gusenbauer Austrian Chancellor

Reports say the fire broke out in an upstairs room. Its cause is not yet known, but a criminal investigation has been launched.

Ten emergency doctors and 65 nurses tended to survivors.

The home housed elderly and sick people, which is why some could not escape unaided. Officials say those who died - all of smoke inhalation - were particularly frail.

"This is a catastrophe, it is awful," Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer told reporters in Egg.

The local authorities have brought in crisis counsellors and set up a telephone hotline for worried relatives.