Thirteen people, including several children, have died in a large fire affecting an apartment building in central Philadelphia, in the eastern United States, the city firefighters announced on Wednesday (January 5th).
"For now, the toll is 13 (dead)," said a representative of the firefighters, specifying that this figure could still evolve.
"It was terrible (...) it's a terrible record," he added, during an impromptu press briefing broadcast live on Twitter.
Several children are among the victims.
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Philadelphia firefighters arrived at the scene at 6:40 am (11:40 GMT) and had to deal with "an intense fire originating from the second floor of a house" which has three.
"It took 50 minutes to bring the fire under control," they said in a tweet.
The tragic fire took place in the central and residential district of Fairmont, where the great museums of Philadelphia are located.
According to several American media, the affected building belongs to the city.
