Two toddlers die after suffering steam burns in NYC shelter
NEW YORK -- Authorities say two sibling toddlers have died after suffering steam burns in a New York City apartment, and investigators are looking into whether a radiator malfunctioned.
The New York Police Department says 1-year-old Scylee Vayoh Ambrose and 2-year-old Ibanez Ambrose were taken at around noon Wednesday from a Bronx apartment to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The medical examiner will determine what caused their deaths. However, fire officials say both children had severe burns apparently caused by a steam leak from a malfunctioning radiator.
It happened around noon in a first floor shelter apartment on Hunts Point Avenue in the Hunts Point section, CBS New York reports.
“We are devastated by this tragedy,” said Commissioner Steven Banks of the Human Resources Administration. “We are investigating and taking steps to immediately transfer the four other families being sheltered at this location to another shelter.”
“We’ve lost two more of our youngest, most vulnerable New Yorkers. It comes as the homeless population has just reached yet another record high, and the number of children in the DHS system is soaring. We have to do better,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer. “We will ask questions and work to get answers about what happened here—transparency is key. But for now, these children are in my family’s thoughts. It’s a sad day.”
