BOGOTA, Aug 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 22 people, including 16 police officers, were injured after a fire broke out in a hotel in the northern Colombian city of Barranquilla, local authorities said.
The fire department ruled out that the Thursday night blaze, which started about 10 p.m. local time, was the result of an attack and instead said it was caused by a short circuit.
Deputy commander of the Barranquilla Fire Department Lieutenant Cesar Fonseca said that the fire was brought under control during the early hours of Friday morning.
“A terrorist attack has been ruled out. Apparently there was a short circuit in an electrical extension that we are still verifying,” he said.
Members of the police were staying at the hotel in the Caribbean city, according to the fire department. — NNN-XINHUA
