A fire broke out in a seven-story residential building in central Sundbyberg, north of Stockholm, on Thursday evening, sending 18 people to the hospital with various injuries.

The fire, which started in an apartment on the first floor, led to significant smoke development throughout the building.

Emergency services quickly responded, evacuating residents using aerial platforms and enforcing extensive ventilation measures.

The fire was extinguished within an hour, but police have initiated an investigation treating the incident as suspected arson.

The condition of those hospitalized, primarily for smoke inhalation, remains under assessment.