While Christmas shopping, a father experienced a tragic event as his four children and a young relative perished in a house fire in Arizona, according to the police.

On Saturday evening, the two-story home in Bullhead City situated 100 miles (160km) south of Las Vegas, was engulfed in flames, with no survivors reported, authorities stated on Monday. The siblings, aged 2, 4, 5, and 13, were joined by an 11-year-old relative who was visiting.

The father, whose identity has not been disclosed, informed investigators that he had been away for approximately 2.5 hours to purchase groceries and Christmas gifts.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the fire likely started in the downstairs entrance, making it difficult for the children in the upstairs bedroom to escape safely.

Tragically, all five victims were discovered in the same upstairs bedroom, and it seemed that the fire had spread up the home's sole staircase, blocking any possible means of exit.

Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and the names of the children and the father have not yet been released. Witnesses recounted the heartbreaking scene of desperate neighbors attempting to combat the fire with hoses and ladders.

"We pulled the garage door open, there were guys pulling stuff out," one witness, Patrick O'Neal, told local CBS News affiliate KTVK. "The closer we got to the door there was smoke starting to come into the garage and choking people out."

The neighbors were unaware that anyone was inside the home, he added. If they had known, he said they would have attempted a rescue.

Police say there were no adults home when the fire started.

A vigil is planned in a local park for Wednesday night, and a GoFundMe drive has raised over $14,000 (£11,000) as of Tuesday to help the families cover funeral expenses.

What a tragedy! May the Lord console this very family

Too sad.
This is indeed a tragedy.
May we never experience this and may the Lord console this family in Jesus name AMEN.

Very bad