This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-50515620
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eastbourne's Claremont Hotel 'engulfed in flames' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A seafront hotel has been "engulfed in flames" after a fire broke out. | |
| Eastbourne's Claremont Hotel was evacuated after the blaze started at about 08:50 GMT. Staff and guests at the neighbouring Pier Hotel have also been evacuated. | |
| East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said all those inside the Claremont had been accounted for. There have been no reports of any injuries, it added. | |
| About 60 firefighters and 12 engines have been sent to the scene. | |
| 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, the fire service said. | |
| Videos and pictures posted on social media have shown flames coming out of windows and the roof. | |
| Simon Palmer, who works at the Pier Hotel, said the Claremont was "engulfed in flames" and added the fire had "taken three-quarters of the roof away already". | |
| He said he had heard a "very loud explosion" and thought parts of the hotel were collapsing. | |
| He added there was a lot of debris on the pavements and roads surrounding the hotel. | |
| Many of the guests he had spoken to were having breakfast when the blaze started so were able to escape quickly, he said. | |
| Eastbourne Borough Council said guests from the Claremont Hotel were being taken to the Town Hall where they were being offered refreshments and help. |