THE FUNERALS OF two Irish students who died in Belgium are due to take place later this week.
Dace Zarina and Sara Gibadlo died in a fire in their college accommodation in Leuven.
Both Irish nationals, they will be laid to rest in their familys’ home countries, Zarina in Latvia and Gibadlo in Poland.
The college also intends to hold a memorial service for the two students once funeral arrangements have been finalised.
A book of condolences has been opened at GMIT’s Galway campus.
Eight other students escaped last Friday’s blaze in accommodation associated with the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe.
The two women had commenced a 30-week Erasmus work placement in January.
‘Devastated’
Their fellow students were said to be ‘devastated’ by the loss of two ‘very popular classmates’.
It was initially thought that safety checks had not been carried out on the building.
However, the college later issued a statement to confirm that it complied with all necessary fire safety regulations.
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