Two(2) young children were on Thursday night burnt beyond recognition after a fire broke out at a residential block in Umoja 3 estate, Nairobi.

The fire is said to have started at around 9pm in one of the houses and quickly spread to neighbouring units, which left more than 20 structures destroyed in the incident.

According to police, the children, aged 6 and 8, were alone in their home when the fire broke out and rescuers were unable to reach them in time.

The fire left dozens of residents homeless as their homes and belongings were destroyed. Several shops and other businesses in the affected buildings were also damaged.

Police and the Nairobi fire brigade arrived at the scene but found the two children had already been burnt to death in the house.

“We are yet to establish the cause of the fire. But we have launched investigations,” police said.

Residents said the fire started from one of the affected structures before it spread fast to the others flattening them.

Police said property of unknown value was destroyed.

The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations.

The latest fire incident comes a day after two children aged 4 and 6 were also burnt to death in Heni Health Centre in Kinangop.

Neighbours tried to put out the fire with water, but due to the strong winds in the area, the inferno spread quickly, engulfing the entire first floor of the house.