Four killed in house fire in Tsu, central Japan

Four people have died in a fire that broke out at a house in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Friday. Four children were in the building at the time.

Police say three bodies were found in a bedroom and one in a living room. Two were male and two were female. Police are working to identify them.

A 38-year-old Brazilian national and his daughter lived in the house. A 43-year-old woman, an acquaintance of the man, was visiting with her three children. The fire is believed to have started while the two adults were out.

The man's four-year-old daughter and the woman's daughter and two sons, aged 10, 12 and 13 respectively, remain unaccounted for.

The flames were reportedly raging near the entrance on the south side of the building when firefighters arrived. The house was completely burned down. Police are also investigating the cause of the fire.