24 September 2011 Last updated at 17:49
Mother and five children killed in Neasden house fire
A mother and five of her children have been killed in a house fire in north-west London.
Muna Elmufatish, 41, and her daughters Hanin Kua, 14, Basma, 13 and Amal, 9, died in the blaze with her sons Mustafa, 5, and Yehya, aged 2.
Her husband, Bassam Kua, 51, and another daughter Nur, 16, are in a critical condition following the fire in Neasden early on Saturday morning.
Police said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious.
Flames tore through the semi-detached house in Sonia Gardens as six fire engines and 30 firefighters tackled the blaze at about 01:00 BST.
'Like a bomb'
One neighbour said he heard a loud bang from the home of the family who are thought to be Palestinian, which sounded "like an explosion, almost like a bomb".
He added: "We all went outside and we saw firemen looking out the window and shouting, 'there's people in there'. It was horrific."
LFB station manager Glen Gorman, who was at the scene, said: "There's no doubt this is an absolute tragedy.
"My thoughts, and those of my colleagues at the London Fire Brigade, are with the friends, family and loved ones of those affected at this extremely sad and difficult time."
He added: "Crews worked extremely hard in some very, very, difficult conditions and were able to prevent fire spreading to adjoining properties and causing further injuries or even further tragedy."
Chief Supt Matthew Gardner said: "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the friends and family of the victims, who are now having to come to terms with this terrible loss of life."
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We sent the air ambulance, a doctor in a car, four ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team.
"Sadly four youngsters and an adult were dead at the scene."
Silence observed
"Our staff treated a five-year-old boy in cardiac arrest but despite extensive efforts they were unable to resuscitate him."
BBC correspondent Ben Ando said from the scene that the local community had been profoundly shocked by the deaths.
London Assembly member Navin Shah said his condolences were with the family whose childen attended schools in the area.
Chief Supt Gardner said local officers were conducting "reassurance patrols" and would be working with the local authority and fire brigade, as well as local schools in the coming days.
Firefighters from Willesden, West Hampstead, North Kensington and Park Royal fire stations were at the scene of the blaze.
They were alerted at 00:50 BST and the fire was under control by 02:50 BST but the ground and first floors of the house were badly damaged.
A minute's silence for those who died was held at 17:30 BST by fire crews from across the UK who are attending a firefighters' event in east London.
The coroner's officer broke down in tears while relaying the details of five children. Coroner's officer Rebecca Smith outlined the facts for Andrew Walker, coroner for the northern district of greater London. As she read the final details of the dead, the date of birth and home address of Yehya, her voice broke, but she went on and wiped away tears.
Firefighters and Fire Brigade staff from crews from all over Britain paid their tribute at a conference in East London.
Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon.
May Allah have mercy on them, forgive them, enter them into jannatul firdous, all together, without reckoning, and may He grant Sabr to father and daughter and to all their loved ones, ameen.
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists).".."[Al Qur'aan 3:2]
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
Innalillahi wa inna ilayhir raji'un
“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever”.
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
I cant imagine what the father is going through and pray that the remaining daughter pulls through and that Allah gives them a huge amount of sabr. May Allah give them Jannat al firdaus. Ameen.
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon. I pray the father and daughter pull through. Insha Allah the ummah will be ready to offer them their help and support.
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
Ina lilahi wa ina ileyhi raja'uun..I'm so sorry for this tragic loss May Allah swt grant them all the status of martyrdom, and grant them highest level of Firdows ameen.
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
inna lillah wa'ina ilyhi raji3oon.. I feel very sad la 7wala wla qiwta illah billah
may Allah swt grant them Jannat al firdaws.. certainly dying by fire is akin to martyrdom
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
format_quote Originally Posted by Dying Rose
Does anyone know this family or which hospital they would be admitted in?
They were admitted into St Mary's Hospital in Paddington and are receiving treatment there.
Ameen to all the du3as.
London Fire Brigade said the family's chest freezer, which was stored in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs, was most likely to have started the blaze, which became the capital's worst house fire in more than a decade.
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
28 September 2011 Last updated at 15:22
Neasden fire deaths: Funeral for Kua family members
A father who lost his wife and five children in a fire at their home led hundreds of mourners at their funerals.
Muna Elmufatish, 41, her three daughters and two sons, aged between two to 14, died in the fire at their home in Neasden, early on Saturday.
Bassam Kua, 51, who survived the fire with daughter Nur, 16, had bandages on both arms and burns on his face.
The funeral ceremony took place at the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery, where the victims were buried.
The six members of the family died from inhaling fumes from the fire at their semi-detached property in Sonia Gardens, post-mortem tests found.
Mr Kua was discharged from hospital for the funeral service but he will need to return for treatment.
Nur remains in the hospital and her condition has been described as critical but stable.
The bodies of the mother and teenage daughters Hanin, 14, and Basma, 13, were carried to the burial site in black hearses, while the bodies of the younger children - Amal, nine, Mustafa, five, and two-year-old Yehya - were carried in white hearses.
The procession of hearses left the funeral parlour in Whitechapel and reached the cemetery in Elmbridge Road, Hainault, where funeral prayers were held before the burial.
Imam Shaikh Haddad led the mourners in prayer as they queued in front of the six coffins, the smallest three of which were white.
Mr Kua touched the white coffin of the youngest child, two-year-old Yehya, as it was taken to be buried...
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
Re: Six members of the same family die in house fire
La ilaha ilalah muhamada rasululah...I saw the Janaza pictures, subhanaAllah may Allah accept them as martyrs and grant those they left behind strength to bear this loss ameen.
Learn Patience from Asiyah, Loyalty from Khadijah, Sincerity from Aisha and Steadfastness from Fatima.
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