Police in Belfast are trying to ascertain the cause of a fire which claimed the lives of three people including a three-year-old boy.
The fire, which broke out at Edenbrook Close in the loyalist Shankill area of the city, was discovered at around 1pm.
Three generations of a single family died in the tragedy. The victims were a woman in her 80s, her 37-year-old son and her three-year-old grandson.
The house is located in a cul-de-sac near Edenbrook Primary School at the top of the Shankill Road.
Speaking at the scene of the fire, Superintendent Gary White said police were in the process of speaking to relatives of the victims.
"As you can imagine people are devastated, as is the whole community."
Sources said the blaze appeared to have been accidental and police are not treating the fire as suspicious.
Stunned neighbours peered out from the windows of their homes as the emergency services examined the scene.
A PSNI family liaison officer arrived as forensic experts and firemen entered and left the house, the windows of which appeared to be blackened by smoke.
Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds described the incident as a terrible tragedy.
"Our thoughts are entirely with the family of those who have lost their lives and with the community in Edenbrook Close at this time," the North Befast MP said. "It is an appalling and awful tragedy to occur."
Ulster Unionist Assembly member Fred Cobain said the community was stunned. "People are in a state of shock about what has happened," he said.
"It is a terrible, terrible incident. "It just drives home to everyone the need for them to be fire safety conscious."
SDLP Assembly member Alban Maginness expressed his shock and sadness at the fire tragedy.
"News that three members of one family have died following this house fire comes with a great sense of shock and deep sadness to the entire community," the North Belfast MLA said.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the three victims at this tragic and heartbreaking time."