Fire sweeps through home for elderly, killing 2 in London

Two people died and 33 were rescued Saturday after fire swept through a care home in London.

Three other people were taken to hospital by emergency ambulances following the fire at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, about 20 kilometers north of London.

The alarm was raised around 6 a.m. local time when flames were spotted, with the fire quickly spreading into what rescuers described as a fierce fire.

Twelve fire crews from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, London and Essex were joined at the scene by paramedics, five ambulances and police officers.

Eye witness, Danny Wade, told the Hertfordshire Mercury: "There was smoke belching and blasting into the air."

Three people were taken to hospital for minor burns and smoke inhalation following the fire at the 38-bed Newgrange Care Home in Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt. Most of the residents were evacuated to a nearby rest center to be assessed.

Hertfordshire County Council said in a statement: "Firefighters were faced with an extremely fierce fire well-established in the first floor and the roof of the building, which has since collapsed.

"We can confirm that two people died in the fire and we would like to offer our sympathies to their families."

Fire experts are investigating the cause of the fire.

Source: Xinhua