Twelve people lost their lives and 14 others were injured in a deadly fire that swept through an apartment complex in the Bronx Thursday night.

The fire reportedly began on the first floor of the building, according to CNN.com. One of the apartment units reportedly had defective carbon monoxide and smoke detectors–a fact that was known prior to the destructive fire.

Authorities are still investigating to determine if the apartment with the defective smoke detectors was where the blaze started.

Witnesses told reporters that as the blaze took over the complex, chaos ensued and people rushed to evacuate, even before fire department personnel showed up. The tragedy was made worse by the frigid New York City evening which evacuees faced.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the blaze the “worst fire tragedy in this city in at least a quarter century.”

The apartment was comprised of 29 units. Residents who died in the fire included both young children and the elderly. A baby was among the dead claimed by the blaze, reports ABC7 Eyewitness News.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. Of the 14 injured, four are reportedly in critical condition.

Photo: Firefighters leave after putting out a major house fire on Prospect avenue on December 28, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Over 170 firefighters respond to the evening fire in which at least 12…

Coptic Christians in Egypt have been experiencing heightened persecution in recent times. Attacks against Coptic communities have especially increased during Christian holidays.

CBN News reports that at least 10 people were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a Coptic Christian church in a south Cairo suburb.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident and have closed off the area surrounding the church. There was initial discrepancy in the report of the death toll.

Samir Gerges, a witness to the attack, said the church gates were closed when the gunfire started, but bullets still penetrated the building.

Another witness, Raouth Atta, also commented on the attack: “Once the gunfire was heard, the gates were closed immediately,” she told The Associated Press over the phone. “People were terrified and wanted to check on their families in other buildings of the church. We stayed inside for 30 minutes before we were able to get out.”

CBN News reports that Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April when Islamic extremists attacked Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday, killing 47 people. Last December, another attack was carried out on Egypt’s Christian community, killing 29 people.

Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population.

Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/photos.com

Publication date: December 29, 2017 

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