The national news agency quoted a waitress who said the fire had blocked one of the two stairways leading from the basement to the street.

The fire blocked their only means of escape, he said.

The fire effectively blocked the tunnel.

He said the fire blocked the only entrance and he and dozens of others searched frantically in the thick smoke for another way out.

The smoky fire that started beneath them blocked their way off the platform to the plant's main exit.

Sometimes fire blocked their paths.

The fires blocked his path to Galishnikov and Sa'id's room.

Now more fires blocked the way back to Ziegler's room, as well.

There was only one staircase out of the cellar, and the fire blocked it, Mr. Garcia said.

Tonight, fires and barricades blocked major streets in several neighborhoods.