The bodies of four young women were found inside a house in Hamar that had caught fire early Monday morning. All were aged 18-19 and said to be girlfriends who had gathered at the home of one of them.

Neighbours reported hearing several explosions while the house was engulfed in flames. Emergency crews were first called to the house located near the center of Hamar shortly after 5am.

There was so much smoke from the fire that the nearby University of Innlandet cancelled classes, and neighbours were told to keep their windows closed. All the young women came from the Hamar region, “were girlfriends and had met for a social gathering,” police inspector Liv Hilde Nytrøen told state broadcaster NRK.

An investigation was launched immediately into the cause of the fatal fire that put local officials into crisis mode and brought condolences from the prime minister on what was Election Day in Norway. “We’re thinking about all of those who are affected by this and their families,” said Hamar Mayor Vigdis Stensby. “This is terribly sad for the entire community.”

NewsinEnglish.no staff