Firefighters gather at the scene of a fire where four firefighters were killed battling a five-alarm blaze at a restaurant and hotel in southwest Houston on May 31, 2013.
At least four firefighters have been killed and five others injured while battling a massive blaze at a hotel in the southwest of Houston, Texas.
Three firefighters died at the scene and the other died at a hospital after trying to respond to the five-alarm blaze on Friday, the office of the local medical examiner said.
The fire broke out at a restaurant and club at the Southwest Inn and spread to the motel before being extinguished about two hours later.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
A rescue operation is currently underway to locate the missing people. It is not known yet if any firefighters are unaccounted for.
Reports say over 100 firemen were trying to stop the blaze in sweltering temperatures which along with high humidity hampered the operation.
MA/MHB
This article originally appeared on: Press TV