Girl, 7, becomes fourth child in family to die after fire

A seven-year-old girl died last night after a two-day fight for her life, becoming the 10th victim of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of her mother, siblings and cousins.

Asimi Soumare became the fourth child in her family to die as a result of the fire, a family spokesman said.

The blaze was New York City’s deadliest in almost 20 years.

Mamadou Soumare, an immigrant from Mali who received a frantic call from his wife, Fatoumata, on the night of the fire on Wednesday, has now lost all of his immediate family.

Word of the latest death came just two days before Monday’s funeral of the other nine victims – three of Asimi’s siblings, her mother and five cousins.

The girl’s death was attributed to complications due to smoke inhalation, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the city medical examiner.