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GMIT students living in Oranmore and Longford die in Belgian blaze
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Belgian police have confirmed that the two bodies found at the scene of a fire in Leuven are those of two Irish students of Polish and Lithuanian origin.
22-year-old Sara Gibadlo from Oranmore and 19-year-old Dace Zarina from Longford were students of GMIT in Galway.
They were second year students in the Bachelor of Business Degree in Hotel and Catering Management.
The two were the only GMIT students studying at the Irish University in Leuven as part of an erasmus programme, which just began a few weeks ago.
Many of their classmates, who are on placement in other parts of Europe, are being informed of the tragedy by college authorities this afternoon.
GMIT has appointed liaisons to support both families and are also liaising with the Belgian Embassy and the Ambassador, who is in Leuven.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed to Galway Bay fm News that it’s providing consular assistance to the families.
Head of GMIT College of Tourism and Arts, Cáit Noone says the college is devastated and that “Dace and Sara were both bright, creative young girls”.
8 other Irish students were in the building at the time of the blaze – which broke out shortly after six o’clock this morning.