A mother has been arrested after her children were killed in a fire in Durban on Friday.
|||Two toddlers have burned to death in a fire at a block of flats in the Durban city centre on Friday afternoon, after their mother left them alone allegedly to go shopping.
Speaking from the scene, police spokesman Lt. Col. Vincent Mdunge told IOL the incident happened on Victoria Embankment, at midday, at West Point Lodge.
He said the 27-year-old mother of the children -- who were three-years-old and 18-months-old -- had put them in a room before she locked them within the flat and allegedly left.
Mdunge said upon her return, the mother saw that a fire had engulfed her apartment and raised the alarm.
“By the time the alarm was raised, the fire had spread to the floor above and beneath the woman's flat.”
He said many residents of the block of flats were treated for smoke inhalation.
“Unfortunately, the two children who died, were burned beyond recognition.”
The woman has since been arrested.
“We are strongly considering charging her under the child care act and feel strongly that this is a case of neglect. We are also contemplating charging her for murder,” he said.
The woman would appear in court soon.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire. - IOL
E-mail Benita: benita.enoch@inl.co.za