A fire in an apartment block in the Bronx borough of New York has left 12 people dead and four others critically injured.
More than 160 Firefighters responded to the fire which New York City Mayor, Bill De Blasio described as “an unspeakable tragedy”.
The fire is reported to have started on the first floor of the five-storey building with the first fire alarm sounding at around 1900 Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5 hours).
A number of residents made their escape down external fire escapes with Firefighters also carrying out multiple rescues.
New York is currently experiencing very cold weather which led to Firefighting hoses freezing in the conditions.
The weather also meant those who escaped faced severe cold after leaving the building. The Red Cross provided blankets to victims and a shelter was established at a nearby school.
Mayor De Blasio said the fire was “the deadliest in the city for at least 25 years.”
Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently ongoing.
Image for illustration purposes. Picture from MDM collection.
