Waterford: Two Children Among Four Dead After House Fire
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Two children are among four people who died following a house fire in Waterford city, Republic of Ireland.
Gardaí (Irish police) have confirmed the deaths of a man and a woman, along with the two children, after the blaze at a house on Birchwood Avenue. Two other children are critically injured in the incident and are being treated in hospital.
The fire was reported to Waterford Fire Service at 05:13 local time on Tuesday. They arrived to a "well-developed fire" at a two-storey house and "a number of casualties" were removed before the blaze was extinguished.
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin expressed his condolences and appealed for privacy for first responders. He described the situation as a "very worrying and deeply disturbing situation."
Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane, who knows the family, expressed his heartbreak and said the community is shocked by the tragedy. The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan, described it as an "unspeakable tragedy."
The Mayor of Waterford, Lola O'Sullivan, urged people not to speculate about the cause of the fire. A support hub has been opened at Butler Community Centre for those affected.