Fire rips through Cornish hotel

One person has died and a further six are missing after a hotel fire in the Cornish resort of Newquay, England. The Penhallow hotel was all but totally destroyed in the blaze, which began around midnight and threatened to sweep through the entire Edwardian terrace of which the hotel was part.

86 residents were evacuated and three needed hospital treatment. Some guests had to jump to safety and firemen were forced back when a floor of the building collapsed. Two other adjoining hotels were also evacuated. 14 fire appliances and 120 firefighters were needed to bring the blaze under control, but because of the danger of structural collapse several smaller fires were still burning this morning. The hotel is popular with elderly tourists and coach parties, mainly from north and north west England.

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