Police said the property had been too unstable and dangerous in the days following the blaze for officers to go inside. A sixth body has now been discovered after works were carried out to make the structure safe for investigators.
By Daniel Binns, news reporter
The body of a sixth person has been discovered following a house fire in west London, the Metropolitan Police said.
Five people believed to be from the same family, including three children, were previously confirmed killed in the fire in Hounslow on Sunday night.
The adults who lived at the home have been named locally as Aroen Kishen and his wife Seema Ratra, while the children were named in a tribute from their school as Riyan, Shanaya and Arohi.
A sixth person was previously unaccounted for.
A seventh person, a man, escaped the property and was taken to hospital suffering from serious burns. He is still receiving treatment but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
In a new statement on Thursday, the Met said the home had been “too unstable and dangerous” for investigating officers to go inside in the days following the blaze.
“It was only after the walls were shored up, and the roof removed, that it became safe enough for search teams to enter the premises,” the force said.
It was then that the sixth death was confirmed. Their age has not been confirmed.
Detective chief inspector Garth Hall said the deaths were still being treated as “unexplained” and stressed officers did not want to “rush to any judgement”.
He said police would “follow where the evidence leads,” and added: “should there be any change in the nature of this inquiry, we will share that information immediately.”
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters battled the blaze after being called to the scene in Channel Close just before 10.30pm on Sunday night.
The ground floor and first floors of the mid-terrace house were destroyed and part of the roof was also damaged, while nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution.
The Met said the “families of all those concerned have been informed of the development and are being supported by specialist officers.”
Police have not yet formally identified any of the victims but said they included “adults and children”.
Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out soon.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
