A FIRE SWEPT THROUGH A MANHATTAN BOARDING HOUSE, IN WHICH BETWEEN 80 AND 100 PEOPLE WERE LIVING, ON SUNDAY (21 DECEMBER), AND CAUSED THE DEATH OF A MAN AND HIS WIFE AND INJURED 19. THE NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS REPORTED THAT EIGHT PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR.

FIREMEN SAID THE FIRE BEGAN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE FIVE-STOREY BUILDING AND SHOT UP THROUGH THE UPPER FLOORS AND THE ROOF, CAUSING SOME OF THE FLOORING AND PART OF THE ROOF TO COLLAPSE.

THE TWO DEAD WERE FOUND BY FIREMEN IN THEIR SECOND-FLOOR APARTMENT. MANY OF THE INJURED WERE RESCUED FROM THE BUILDING'S FIRE ESCAPES BY FIREMEN USING AERIAL LADDERS. ALL 19 WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM BURNS, CUTS, BRUISES, AND SMOKE INHALATION.

BUILDINGS ADJOINING THE BOARDING HOUSE WERE ALSO DAMAGED BY THE FIRE.