Firefighters were called by London Ambulance Service to investigate the smell of chemicals at a block of flats on Kender Street, SE14, in New Cross yesterday evening (Thursday).
It is believed that the source of the smell was a drain cleaning product being used in a fourth floor flat. Around 100 people were evacuated from the block as a precaution and fire crews using specialist equipment carried out a sweep of the building to confirm the flats were safe before residents were allowed to return.
A woman and three children from the flat involved were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service suffering from the effects of the fumes. Two men who were in the flat at the time are also believed to have suffered a possible electric shock. One of them, also affected by fumes, was taken to hospital, but sadly the other man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Brigade was called at 2157 and the incident was left in the care of the Metropolitan Police at just after 0100. Firefighters from New Cross and Deptford fire stations, along with other specialist crews attended the incident.