New York, Dec. 23. Two girls died on Friday in New York and four other minors were injured, two in critical condition, who exploded in their home in the borough of Staten Island, firefighters (FDNY) confirmed.
Arriving at the residence shortly after 10:00 am local time, firefighters found the children trapped on the second floor of the residence.
“The entire second floor was so engulfed in flames that the fire was coming down the stairs. We found the victims inside, all unconscious,” said Staten Island Fire Chief John Hodgens, who did not provided details on the origin of the fire.
A 5-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene and a six-year-old boy at the hospital where they were taken, while two boys aged 5 and 10 are in critical condition. In the fire in which a firefighter was also slightly injured, two teenagers suffered minor injuries.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the boys were believed to be siblings and their mother was receiving counseling at the hospital.
“We can certainly say today that the heart of the city is broken. This is truly an unspeakable tragedy for that family, for the neighborhood, for the local community and for our entire city,” said Kavanagh. EFE
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