13 Dead In US Apartment Fire: Report

US networks including NBC and CBS reported that the blaze had killed 13 people.

Thirteen people died when a fire tore through public housing apartments in the eastern US city of Philadelphia on Wednesday, US media reported. PFD responded to a fatal fire this morning on the 800 block of N. 23rd St. The fire is under control but the scene is still active.

The city's fire department said its officers arrived at the scene at 6:40 am (11:40 GMT) "and found heavy fire coming from the second floor of a three-story rowhouse."

"PFD responded to a fatal fire this morning on the 800 block of N. 23rd St," it said in a tweet.

"It took 50 minutes to place the fire under control."