A tragic explosion followed by a fire broke out in a private home in the “Urta Ovul” neighborhood of the Urtachirchik district in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region, leaving four people dead, including a man and three children.

According to preliminary reports, five people were inside the house at the time of the incident. The homeowner, 30, reportedly managed to help his wife and mother escape the burning building before returning inside to rescue the children. However, they were unable to exit the house, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The victims include the man and his three minor children. Two women were hospitalized and are reported to be in critical condition.

Emergency services, forensic experts, and investigative teams are currently working at the scene to determine the cause of the explosion and the source of the fire.