9 dead, including children, at Dublin travellers' site

Nine people, including a baby and older children, have died in a fire at a site in Dublin housing members of the traveller community, police said Saturday.

"At the moment all I can confirm is that nine people have lost their lives and a number of children are included in this," said Chief Superintendent Diarmuid O'Sullivan, adding that some were "as young as six months".

A number of other people were taken to hospital after inhaling smoke at the site housing caravans and prefabricated buildings.

Dublin Fire Service said it was too early to establish the cause of the fire in the south Dublin suburb of Carrickmines, which is about 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the city centre.

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 0300 GMT.

Irish President Michael D Higgins described the incident as a "dreadful tragedy".

He added in a statement: "My thoughts at this time are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured."

Local councillor Peter O'Brien said "people went to bed on a Friday night looking forward to the weekend and never woke up".

"That's a hard thing to get your head around," he told AFP at the scene.

Source: AFP