A severe apartment fire in Pfäffikon has left four individuals critically injured, including a 34-year-old man, a 43-year-old woman, a 14-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy.

The blaze broke out shortly before midnight in a multi-family building on Hittnauerstrasse, prompting immediate evacuation efforts by emergency services.

The injured, suffering from extensive burns, were transported to hospitals, with some in life-threatening conditions.

The fire caused significant damage, estimated at over a hundred thousand francs, and forced the evacuation of neighboring residents due to heavy soot contamination.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while temporary accommodations have been arranged for displaced residents.