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| Five bodies found at house fire | Five bodies found at house fire |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five bodies have been found in the debris of a house in County Tyrone which was destroyed in a fire. | Five bodies have been found in the debris of a house in County Tyrone which was destroyed in a fire. |
| A couple and their five children lived in the end-terraced property at Lammy Crescent in Omagh. | A couple and their five children lived in the end-terraced property at Lammy Crescent in Omagh. |
| Deputy chief fire officer Louis Jones said the bodies were discovered in upstairs bedrooms. None of the remains have been removed from the scene. | |
| "There are two further persons unaccounted for at this stage and our investigations are ongoing," he said. | "There are two further persons unaccounted for at this stage and our investigations are ongoing," he said. |
| He said the search had been scaled down until Wednesday morning on the advice of the police. | He said the search had been scaled down until Wednesday morning on the advice of the police. |
| "In my 30 years of service, it has to be the largest loss of life in any house fire I have attended," he added. | "In my 30 years of service, it has to be the largest loss of life in any house fire I have attended," he added. |
| The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. | The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. |
| The fire service arrived at the property at about 0500 GMT on Tuesday. | The fire service arrived at the property at about 0500 GMT on Tuesday. |
| Earlier, neighbours had put ladders up to first floor bedrooms, but were beaten back by the flames. | Earlier, neighbours had put ladders up to first floor bedrooms, but were beaten back by the flames. |
| Firefighters with breathing apparatus were also beaten back by the flames. | Firefighters with breathing apparatus were also beaten back by the flames. |
| It is understood the property was already well-alight when firefighters arrived. | It is understood the property was already well-alight when firefighters arrived. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| The fire was so intense that the roof collapsed. It is believed the children feared dead range in age from an infant to a 13-year-old. | The fire was so intense that the roof collapsed. It is believed the children feared dead range in age from an infant to a 13-year-old. |
| Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said police were investigating the cause of the blaze. | Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said police were investigating the cause of the blaze. |
| "It is very early in the investigation and we will be looking at a range of issues, including the period leading up to the fire," he said. | "It is very early in the investigation and we will be looking at a range of issues, including the period leading up to the fire," he said. |
| Parish priest Monsignor Joseph Donnelly said there was "disbelief and shock" in the community. | Parish priest Monsignor Joseph Donnelly said there was "disbelief and shock" in the community. |
| "It's hard to come to terms with the tragedy, that a family that was alive and well this time yesterday is gone," he said. | "It's hard to come to terms with the tragedy, that a family that was alive and well this time yesterday is gone," he said. |
| Local councillor Paddy McGowan - a former firefighter - said it was "one of the worst tragedies" he had ever seen. | Local councillor Paddy McGowan - a former firefighter - said it was "one of the worst tragedies" he had ever seen. |
| Pupils from St Conor's Primary School laid flowers at the house | Pupils from St Conor's Primary School laid flowers at the house |
| Mr McGowan said the family had lived there for about four years. | Mr McGowan said the family had lived there for about four years. |
| Red Cross emergency support volunteers have been at the scene, comforting neighbours and traumatised firefighters. | Red Cross emergency support volunteers have been at the scene, comforting neighbours and traumatised firefighters. |
| St Conor's Primary School near the house has been closed following the tragedy. Two of the children from the family feared dead went to the school. | St Conor's Primary School near the house has been closed following the tragedy. Two of the children from the family feared dead went to the school. |
| The eldest girl, aged 13, went to a secondary school in the town while two other children were under school age. | The eldest girl, aged 13, went to a secondary school in the town while two other children were under school age. |
| Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and first and deputy first ministers Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness have expressed sympathy with the people of Omagh. | Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and first and deputy first ministers Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness have expressed sympathy with the people of Omagh. |
| The Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, said the deaths were "truly heart-breaking". | The Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, said the deaths were "truly heart-breaking". |
| "My thoughts and prayers and those of my colleagues are with relatives and friends at this sad time," he added. | "My thoughts and prayers and those of my colleagues are with relatives and friends at this sad time," he added. |