A second child has died following a fire in east London, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.
One child died and five others were taken to hospital after the fire broke out in a terraced house in East Ham just before 8.30am on Saturday.
The second child died in hospital overnight; the first was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the fire is being investigated. Pic: Terry Pryor
Four other people remain in hospital, two adults and two children, including a 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 on Napier Road, East Ham, the Metropolitan Police said.
Half of the first floor and the ground floor of the house were damaged in the blaze, which was under control by 9.10am.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended, including crews from East Ham, Barking, Stratford, Ilford and surrounding fire stations.
The 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 police forensics van were seen at the scene in East Ham on Sunday afternoon as investigations continued.
Two windows of the house and the glass in the front door were smashed and investigations teams dressed in white forensics suits entered the building and the neighbouring property.
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Members of the local community were seen embracing and crying as they gathered on the street outside where flowers were left in tribute.
Notes left with the flowers included one that read “so sorry for your terrible loss”.
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Neighbour and friend of the family Rida Nawaz, 28, 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 lady”, adding that “she sent one child upstairs – she saved her life. But unfortunately, whatever happened three children were seriously 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 in the local community over the coming days to offer support and advice where needed.
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“The welfare of our staff is very important and all those involved will be offered support from our counselling and trauma service.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the brigade’s fire investigators and the Metropolitan Police.
The force said there is no evidence to indicate suspicious circumstances and enquiries were ongoing to identify and inform other family members.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said on X that she was “heartbroken”, calling it “an unimaginable loss”.
https://news.sky.com/story/east-ham-fire-second-child-dies-in-hospital-and-three-other-people-in-serious-condition-after-blaze-rips-through-terraced-house-13177767
