Nine die in major Dublin fire

Nine people, including a number of children, died in a fire at a halting site in a southeast Dublin suburb on Saturday, state broadcaster RTE reported.

Among those who died were a husband, wife and their children, RTE said.

RTE quoted police officers as saying that the children killed in the fire were all under the age of ten and some of them were as young as six months.

Most of the victims were members of two families, it said.

Meanwhile, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, chief superintendent of police, told reporters that the fire scene in Carrickmines was preserved and that police technical support officers had commenced their investigation.

O'Sullivan said police were trying to establish the cause of the fire and had no information yet about how it started.

Irish President Michael D Higgins said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths.

"This is a most dreadful tragedy," Higgins said 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," he said.

The halting site in Carrickmines, just off the M50 motorway, accommodates up to half a dozen caravans and one or two permanent residential structures. Enditem