So, erm, I slept in a bit today, and I woke to the sounds of sirens and alarms. I got up and looked out the balcony - I live on the 9th floor - and saw flames coming out a balcony one floor down and two flats away. I looked down and saw a naked corpse (a 49 year old man) in the grass below, aleady surrounded by emergency services - and then I looked up again as I witnessed a small explosion in the burning flat. I also heard people let out screams (which quieted down quickly). I quickly left my flat and made my way down the stairs, as firefighters made their way up. Outside, everyone was gathering in the parking lot. Emergency services already had everything locked down and under control, Later, they gave out facemasks, but most people kept their distance anyway. I saw one woman crying and being comforted by emergency services.
I talked to a reporter telling him what I knew (I actually used to work with him a few years ago), and some of my remarks made it into the article.
When it was all over and we could return inside, my - and others - apartments had been forcibly opened by firefighters to make sure everyone was safe.
I then talked to the woman living one flat over, she was even closer, and she told me she actually saw the man jump. She and other neighbours told him to stay put since firefighters were en route, but the panic mustve overtaken him and so he jumped from the 8th floor.
I'm still processing all this and currently just telling people about it. It was obviously a shock, but for most of the time I was simply stunned/numb, while I was waiting outside. Even now, I mainly feel numb. Luckily I was not harmed in any way, and no one else either. But of course, someone lost his life in that fire and that is incredibly sad.