The identities of the victims in the Bronx apartment fire in New York City, have been revealed, as 3 siblings, a mother of 5 and her 3 children among those who died in the sad incident, People reports.
According to the report by People, the Bronx apartment fire which saw many people dead and others injured was believed to have been caused by a faulty electrical heater that spread in the 19-story apartment building on Sunday. The blaze is the city’s deadliest fire in three decades, according to the AP.
The Bronx apartment fire victims include four members of the Drammeh family: Fatoumata Drammeh, 50; Foutmala Drammeh, 21; Muhammed Drammeh, 12; and Nyumaaisha Drammeh, 19, according to a release by the NYPD.
Fatima Drammeh, 23, was at work during the fire and survived, and her brother, 16-year-old Yagub Drammeh, is currently hospitalized after being rescued from the building.
“I just said bye to them, because we were leaving the house,” Fatima told the New York Times. “I didn’t think it would be my last time seeing them.”
Her father, Ishak Drammeh, had been away and was not in their apartment during the blaze.
“It’s not easy, your own child,” Ishak, who is from the West African country of Gambia, told the outlet. “Now they just go; you never see them again until the day of judgment.”
Other victims of the fire include Sera Janneh, 27; Seydou Toure, 12; Haouwa Mahamadou, 5; Haji Dukary, 49; Haja Dukureh, 37; Mustapha Dukureh, 12; Mariam Dukureh, 11; Fatoumata Dukureh, 5; Omar Jambang, 6; Fatoumata Tunkara, 43; Isatou Jabbie, 31; Hagi Jawara, 47 and 2-year-old Ousmane Konteh.
According to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, all victims died of smoke inhalation, and the fire is considered an accident.
Sera Janneh’s father, Tijan Janneh, said he and his other daughter, 19-year-old Ishatou Janneh, tried escaping the building but the smoke was too intense.
“We were trapped in the fire together,” he told the New York Daily News. “We went down the stairs to the fourth floor but it was black with smoke.”
“That’s where I lost them,” he added. “I lost them on the stairs.”
A GoFundMe campaign to help the Drammeh family has been started and has raised nearly $100,000 as of Tuesday night.
The American Red Cross has stepped in to help assist other victims of the fire, city officials confirmed. Those interested in donating can do so here.