US Officials on Tuesday released the names of the 17 people who died in Sunday’s tragic high rise in the Bronx, New York.
The victims include eight children ranging in age from 2 to 12 years old. The oldest fatality was a 50-year-old mother.
All of the victims died of smoke inhalation, according to the medical examiner’s office, which has begun releasing some of the dead to funeral homes.
Here are the people who died in the blaze and what we know about them:
The Dukureh family:
Five members of one family perished in the fire: Haji Dukuray, 49, his wife Haja Dukureh, 37, and their children, Mustapha Dukureh, 12; Mariam Dukureh, 12; and Fatoumata Dukureh, 5.
Haja Dukureh’s uncle, who shares the name Haji Dukuray with the patriarch, said his family is originally from The Gambia and relatives are mulling whether to bury the family in New York or in the African nation.
Fatoumata Tunkara and son Omar Jambang:
Tunkara, a 43-year-old mother and one of her five children, 6-year-old Omar Jambang were identified among the victims.
Tunkara is survived by her four other children, ranging in age from 9 to 19 years old, according to a GoFundMe page raising money for the family.
The family is planning to send Tunkara and her child’s remains back home to her native Gambia and establish a foundation to support her surviving children.
Sera Janneh
Janneh was a 27-year-old student at Lehman College.
Her father, Tijan Janneh, said his family fled the building but were separated as they faced dark smoke and weren’t able to see.
“Later on they just broke the news to us,” he said. “My daughter is gone.”
Haouwa Mahamadou
At just 5-years-old, Mahamadou is among the youngest victims of the blaze.
Seydou Toure
Police identified Toure, 12, an eighth grader, as one of those who perished in the inferno.
Hagi Jawara and Isatou Jabbie
Jawara, 47, and his wife, 31-year-old Isatou Jabbie, leave behind four children.
Jawara’s brother, Yusupha Jawara, said relatives are waiting for the “appropriate” time to tell the kids that their parents died.
“[Jabbie] loved her kids to death. The kids were her life,” said Jawara.
“Right now, we are trying to get the bodies and arrange the funerals and how to break the news to [the children],” Jawara said.
“Then, as a family, we will sit down together and figure out what will happen next.”
Ousmane Konteh
At just 2-years-old, little Ousmane is the youngest victim of the blaze.
Drammeh family
Fatoumata Drammeh, 50, was killed in the fire alongside her three children: daughters Fatoumata, 21, and Aisha, 19, as well as son Mohammed, 12.
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