FIVE CHILDREN DIE, TWO TEENS ESCAPE FROM BURNING PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE

Five children died and other people were rescued from an early-morning fire at a home that operated as a daycare centre in Erie, Penn., on Sunday, officials and news media reported.

Two teenage boys escaped by climbing out a window, news media reported. They then screamed for help, alerting neighbours.

Erie Fire Chief Guy Santone told local news media that as many as eight people had been trapped, including the five children, the two teenagers and one adult. No official count was released early on Monday.

Four of the five children were staying at the centre while their parents worked overnight, media accounts said. It was unclear early on Monday whether the fifth child belonged to the family that lived in the house.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation by police and fire officials.