Twelve people including a seven-month-old baby and three children, were hospitalised this afternoon after a fierce fire broke out in a third floor apartment within a government block in Sta Lucija.

Most were evacuated by fire-fighters using their ladders.

No one was seriously injured and those taken to hospital are suffering mostly from smoke inhalation. 

The blaze was reported at about 5pm.

A woman, 31 and four children aged 10, 7, 3 and seven months, were in the flat which caught fire.

Several fire engines and ambulances were on site. 

The Social Policy Ministry expressed its solidarity with the evacuated residents. It said it had offered them alternative accommodation and architects will inspect the apartment block tomorrow morning.