Twelve people were killed, including an infant, and four were critically injured on Thursday in a fire that swept through several floors of an apartment building in the New York City borough of the Bronx, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed.
The cause of the fire, on Prospect Avenue, near Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo, is not yet clear.
The blaze started on the first floor of the brick building and quickly spread upstairs, city Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters at a news conference with the mayor. The cause was under investigation.
He added that “People died on various floors of the apartment, ranging in age from 1 to over 50,”
“In a department that is surely no stranger to tragedy, we’re shocked by the lives lost.”
Two of the dead were found in a bathtub, according to cable news station NY1.
More than 160 firefighters helped bring the blaze under control.
Officials said the first alarm sounded at the five-storey building at about 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
Speaking at the scene, Mr De Blasio said a nearby school had been set up to shelter those evacuated from the building. The city is currently experiencing bitterly cold weather.
“We’re here at the scene of an unspeakable tragedy”
“Tonight, here in the Bronx there are families that have been torn apart. This is the worst fire tragedy we have seen in this city in at least a quarter century. Based on the information we have now, this will rank as one as the worst losses of life to a fire in many, many years.” said Mr De Blasio
Four people were in hospital in critical condition “fighting for their lives,” the mayor said.
Authorities said firefighters rescued 12 people from the building.
Witness Rafael Gonzalez, who lives in a building across the street, told WCBS-TV he was woken by the smell of smoke and then saw some people using a fire escape of the burning building as the fire raged.
