Woman dies after blaze rips through block of flats

A woman was believed to have died following a major fire at a block of flats in Glasgow yesterday.

Two people were taken to hospital after the blaze broke out on the fifth floor of a seven-storey block of flats in Cardonald. More than 15 firefighters tackled the blaze, which started yesterday afternoon.

Police said they were called to the scene at about 4pm.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said it sent ten vehicles, including three ambulances, to the scene. The road was closed and police cordons set up.

A large black smoke mark could be seen on the outside of the building in Hillington Road South. The road was closed near its junction with Paisley Road West.

Four fire engines, two police cars and three police vans were at the scene at 7.30pm.

Local resident Joseph Rae, 23, said his father John had been trapped by smoke in his flat on the seventh floor.

Speaking at the police cordon, he said: "I got here at around at about 25 to, quarter to, five. There was smoke everywhere.

"My dad could not breathe due to the smoke to start with. They had to get oxygen up to him. They carried it up. He's OK now. It looks like it started in a flat at the back on the fifth floor."