Two siblings have been burnt to death after a late night fire destroyed makeshift buildings at the Rumuola axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Daily Trust gathered that the fire outbreak started at about 10pm on Sunday from one of the rooms in the cluster of makeshift structures where a mother had locked her four children before stepping out to buy items for cooking.

Residents of the area said two out of the four children who were already asleep were trapped and burnt to death, while their two elder siblings who were still awake managed to escape.

A resident of the area who simply identified as Meg said said the fire started from the room of the woman who lost her two children.

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"She was cooking at about 10pm yesterday (Sunday). The stove she was using to cook was on. She then locked the door to go and buy some ingredients.

"When she returned, the fire had already engulfed the place. The two older children who were awake tried to rescue their younger siblings but later ran out because of the heat from the fire."

He stated that the older children kept banging on the door and shouting for help from neighbours, but no one could reach them before they eventually found a way out.

Their younger siblings, aged 5 and 9, respectively, were burnt beyond recognition.

It was gathered that some neighbours and passers-by later alerted the fire service when they noticed thick smoke.

Although their arrival was reportedly late, the firefighters eventually put out the fire and stoped it from spreading.

Police spokesperson in Rivers State, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident, said the said investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident has begun, adding that the mother of the children has been invited for questioning.