Two men die in north Belfast fire

Two Polish migrant workers in their early 20s have died following a house fire in the Tigers bay area of north Belfast.

The Fire and Rescue Service said one of the men was found dead in the burining house and the other died in hospital after being rescued from the two storey house at Camberwell Terrace.

Fire crews arrived at the scene just four minutes after receiving the emergency call at 3:12am.

Three people were rescued from the scene by fire fighters using breathing apparatus, and one of them died later.

A fourth person was found dead in the basement of the home by search teams.

Area fire commander Chris Kerr said: “Crews were met by a harrowing sight, a two storey mid-terrace house well alight on both floors, thick black smoke issuing from every window and one person calling for help from a window of the upper floor.

“Crews managed to rescue this person using extension ladders.”

People living in the adjoining houses were evacuated during the blaze.

Four people were treated in hospital, three of which have been discharged.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.

(JM/KMcA)