Five killed in New York fire

New York City fire officials said five people – including three children – died after fire swept through a Manhattan apartment building today.

Fire Department spokesman Frank Gribbon said a 10-year-old child is critically injured. Officials said the dead include a man and a woman and three children.

Fire officials said the blaze in a housing complex in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood started on the sixth floor early this morning and was declared under control about 45 minutes later.

Firefighters worked quickly, shattering windows and extinguishing the flames within about an hour.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.