A second child has died following a fire in east London, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.
One child died and five others were taken to hospital after the incident. A fire broke out in a terraced house in East Ham shortly before 8.30am on Saturday..
The second child died in hospital during the night; the first was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Photo: Terry Pryor
Four other people remain hospitalized, two adults and two children, including one child whose condition is critical.
The six people involved are believed to be members of the same family who all lived together at the address in Napier Road, East Ham, the Metropolitan Police said.
Half of the first floor and the ground floor of the house were damaged by the fire, which was under control by 9:10 a.m.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended, including crews from East Ham, Barking, Stratford, Ilford and surrounding fire stations.
London Ambulance Service sent ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, members of its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and an air ambulance to the scene.
A fire engine and a forensic van were seen at the scene in East Ham on Sunday afternoon as investigations continued.
Two windows in the house and the glass in the front door were smashed and teams of investigators dressed in white forensic suits entered the building and the neighbouring property.
Members of the local community were seen hugging and crying as they gathered in the street outside where flowers were laid in tribute.
Among the notes left with the flowers, one read, “I am so sorry for your terrible loss.”
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Rida Nawaz, 28, a neighbour and family friend, said: “My husband broke the upstairs window, I broke the front window. We just wanted to save them.”
Another neighbour, Sabah Waheed, 35, who said she had known the mother for 10 years, called her a “very strong woman”, adding that she “sent a child upstairs, saving his life. But unfortunately, regardless, three children were badly burned”.
LFB Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: “This is a terribly sad incident and the thoughts of all of us at London Fire Brigade are with the family, friends and all those affected at this difficult time.
“Staff will be out in the local community over the coming days to offer support and advice if needed.
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“The wellbeing of our staff is very important and everyone involved will benefit from the support of our counselling and trauma service.”
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the brigade’s fire investigators and the Metropolitan Police.
Police said there was no evidence to indicate suspicious circumstances and that investigations were underway to identify and notify other family members.
Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz told X she was “heartbroken”, calling it an “unimaginable loss”.
