Fatalities expected in Waterford house fire

A number of people are reported to have died in the family home.

The semi-detached house has been cordoned off by Gardai as neighbours watch on.

Waterford Fire Service said it received an emergency call about a house fire at Birch Avenue, Kilcohan at 5.13am on Tuesday, a spokesperson said.

“Firefighting operations commenced immediately, and a number of casualties were removed from the two storey house. The fire was extinguished and the scene handed over to An Garda Síochána.”

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane knows the family who lived in the house, as did many in the area and called the news "devastating".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said his heart goes out to the family and their relatives, adding, "I'm just utterly heartbroken".

A number of units of Waterford Fire Service, Gas Networks Ireland and gardaí are outside the property and in the area.

Gardaí have described this as an "ongoing, evolving" incident and say as a result, they are not in a position to provide any further detail.

Gardaí have also asked for the necessary time and space to carry out their investigation given the sensitivities involved.