Six dead in house fire in Australia’s Queensland

BRISBANE, (Reuters): Five boys and their father were killed after a fire ripped through a house in Australia‘s Queensland state early on Sunday (August 6), police said.

The man’s wife, mother of the boys, escaped unharmed from the property on Russell Island, a small community about 60 km (40 miles) southeast of Brisbane, said police Superintendent Mat Kelly, who added that the woman had “lost her entire family”.

Queensland Fire and Rescue said the house had collapsed due to the fire and some nearby residences were affected.

Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the fire which was not thought to be suspicious, police said.

Read more: Ten family members killed in house fire