Waterford city house fire: Number of people, including children, feared dead
Emergency services are at the scene of the house fire in the Birchwood estate, near the city
A devastating house fire in Waterford city has left a community in shock, with authorities reporting that multiple people, including children, may have lost their lives. Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane, who represents the area, expressed his heartbreak at the news, stating that the loss of children has added to the emotional toll.
The fire broke out at a house on Birch Avenue in the Birchwood estate, approximately 3km south of the city center. Emergency services, including Waterford Fire Service, responded to the scene shortly after 5am, discovering a well-developed fire. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and remove casualties from the two-story house.
The extent of the fatalities remains unknown, but Cullinane confirmed that the number of deaths is "very high." He paid tribute to the first responders, asking for their space as they dealt with the traumatic situation. The community has rallied together, offering their support and solidarity to the families affected. Taoiseach Micheál Martin also expressed his shock at the news, emphasizing the need for emergency services to focus on dealing with the deeply disturbing situation.
Written by urgent.news from The Irish Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
