A mother and her adult son died after a raging blaze took over their apartment in a Chinatown building early Friday, officials said.
Firefighters responding to a call at the Mulberry Street building around 3:45 a.m. encountered heavy flames on the fifth floor, the deputy assistant chief, John Sarrocco, said.
The 91-year-old woman was found in the apartment in critical condition. Firefighters were able to remove her to a hospital where she ultimately died from her injuries.
Her son, 52, was found dead in the apartment. The medical examiner will determine a cause of death.
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Fire officials said significant clutter and debris inside the residence made rescue more difficult.
Two other civilians were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, as were two firefighters. One of the firefighters partially fell through a collapsed staircase, officials said.
It's not yet clear how the fire started. An investigation is ongoing.
