Child Dies in East London Flat After Hazardous Chemical Incident in Newham

A devastating incident in East London has resulted in the tragic death of a child following exposure to what the London Fire Brigade (LFB) described as a "hazardous materials incident" inside a flat.

The incident unfolded in Upton Park, Newham, at a property on Barking Road. Fire crews were mobilised on Tuesday afternoon after two adults and two children were rushed to a hospital. The family had initially complained of a strong smell of chemicals within their flat. Despite receiving urgent medical treatment, one of the children sadly died in the hospital. As of this evening, the two adults and the other child remain under medical care.

The Metropolitan Police Service has now taken the lead on the investigation into the circumstances of the incident, working closely with the LFB. Authorities have confirmed that they have not yet released details regarding the nature of the chemical involved or the identity, age, or gender of the deceased child, as the focus remains on establishing the cause.

As a safety precaution, approximately 12 people were evacuated from properties surrounding the affected flat while emergency services were on scene. Specially trained firefighters were deployed to carry out a "systematic sweep" of the affected property. Their primary objective was to detect any residual hazardous materials and to fully ventilate the scene to ensure the area was safe for residents to return.

The initial call reporting the incident was received by the LFB at 1.18 pm on Tuesday, and fire crews from Poplar, Millwall, Euston, and surrounding stations attended the scene. The LFB confirmed that the incident was officially over for crews by 4.23 pm that afternoon. The joint investigation between the police and the fire service is ongoing to determine the source and nature of the materials that led to this fatal exposure.