A one-year-old child has tragically died after a suspected hazardous materials incident at a flat in East London, sparking an urgent investigation by emergency services.
Child Dies After Chemical Smell in East London Flat
A quiet afternoon in Upton Park turned into a harrowing scene on Tuesday after a “hazardous materials” scare resulted in the death of a toddler, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed.
Firefighters rushed to a property on Barking Road, Newham, following reports that two adults and two children had turned up at the hospital complaining of a strong chemical odour coming from their flat.
Despite emergency treatment, one of the children, just one year old, tragically died in the hospital.
A child’s unexplained death in a suspected chemical incident raises serious questions about the safety of the affected property and potential exposure risks in the area.
Emergency Evacuations and Chemical Fears
Emergency services were alerted at 1:18pm, prompting a swift response from multiple fire crews, including those from Poplar, Millwall and Euston.
As a precaution, around 12 residents in neighbouring flats were evacuated while a specialist fire unit conducted a thorough sweep of the building. Their priority: detecting any signs of hazardous substances and ventilating the flat to reduce risk.
“The first call reporting the incident was received at 1318, and firefighters from Poplar, Millwall, Euston and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The incident was over for crews by 1623,” London Fire Brigade
Scene Declared Safe, But Questions Remain
Firefighters worked for over three hours, eventually declaring the scene safe by 4:23 PM. However, the cause of the chemical smell and whether it directly contributed to the child’s death remains unclear.
The Metropolitan Police are now leading a joint investigation alongside the LFB. No arrests have been made at this stage, but authorities are working to identify the substance that may have caused the incident.
Residents in the area are in shock. Many had to leave their homes abruptly, with no information at the time about the nature of the emergency. Some reported experiencing mild throat irritation or headaches, though these claims remain unconfirmed.
This tragic loss of life has left the local community reeling. For many, the unanswered question remains: What exactly was in the air that afternoon?
Stay with UK News Blog as we bring you updates on this developing story.
