A fierce fire broke out at a hotel in south-west Britain on Saturday, at least one person being killed and six reported missing, reports from the region informed.

The blaze destroyed the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, a town located on the north Atlantic coast in Cornwall. Savage flames raged through the structure and caused most of it to collapse, firemen fearing that several people may be trapped under the flaming debris.

According to a police spokesman, the six persons reported missing could have been enjoying the lively and world renown nightlife when the fire erupted shortly after midnight and dodged a close encounter with the merciless flames.

All four storeys were quickly engulfed by flames, firemen having a hard time while trying to contain the blaze. Panic took over guests and hotel staff, many jumping out the windows to save their lives. The emergency teams managed to rescue 86 persons staying at the hotel along with four employees, some of them being taken to the local hospital with moderate injuries.

After three strenuous hours, one hundred firefighters were able to contain the raging fire, but couldn’t enter the faltering building.
An official from the fire brigade said investigators and search teams could enter the hotel’s remains tomorrow after heavy machinery will be brought in to assist the operations. Until then, the fate of the six missing persons remains unknown.

Three adjacent buildings were also evacuated to prevent further incidents, as most of the guests were hosted by other hotels before being transported home. Many of them were elderly persons enjoying a vacation in the famous seaside resort in south-west England, but their belongings went up in smoke for still unknown reasons.