More than a dozen have been killed in New York City burning house | Stories

Authorities say nine children have been killed and many more injured in a fire in the Bronx.

At least 19 people have been killed, including nine children, and many more injured in a blaze in New York City, according to city officials and US journalists.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has confirmed that 19 people have died in a fire that broke out at 11 a.m. Sunday in a 19-story apartment in the Bronx.

“So far we have 19 people who have been confirmed dead and we have several others who are at risk,” Adams told US news agency CNN.

Nine of the dead were children, the Associated Press reported, citing a city official.

More than a dozen people were injured and 13 people were still in critical condition, said Stefan Ringel, chief adviser to Mayor Adams.

About 200 firefighters were dispatched to put out the blaze. The cause was not immediately known, the head of the city’s fire department, Daniel Nigro, told reporters.

“Members found the victims at every step of the way and brought them out with a heart attack and breathing,” he said.

Nigro said the smoke spread to the floor of the house, probably because the front door of the house was left open, and that the victims suffered from severe ventilation.