A fire in New York City apartment building leaves 19 dead including 9 children

New York, (January 11, 2022).- A fire that tore through an apartment building in New York City’s Bronx borough on Sunday, January 9th, left 19 people, including nine children, dead.

At least 63 people were injured, most from smoke inhalation, and 32 people have been hospitalized with life-threatening conditions, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. The fire started shortly before 11 a.m., and was caused by a malfunctioning space heater in the bedroom of an apartment, Nigro said. CNN reports that the 50-year-old building has 120 units.

.@NYCMayor Eric Adams and FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro provide an update from the scene of this morning’s 5-alarm fire at 333 East 181 Street in the Bronx. Read More: https://t.co/yoWep5bRMV pic.twitter.com/6dMnTED1VA

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 9, 2022

“This is going to be one of the worst fires that we have witnessed during modern times here in the city of New York,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. Most of the building’s residents are immigrants from Gambia, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) vowed to provide survivors and the families of victims with compensation for housing, burial costs, and other necessities.

We’ve lost 19 of our neighbors today. It’s a tragedy beyond measure. Join me in praying for those we lost, especially the 9 innocent young lives that were cut short. https://t.co/YWQyBLyLK8

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 9, 2022

“This is a horrific, horrific, painful moment for the city of New York, and the impact of this fire is going to really bring a level of just pain and despair in our city,” Adams said.

.@NYCMayor, @GovKathyHochul, @FDNY Commissioner Nigro and other leaders brief the press and comfort families after today’s five-alarm fire in the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/FdDuSq8bTO

— NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 9, 2022

Source: Yahoo News