Three bodies have been found inside an abandoned factory in Melbourne after an overnight fire.
Three bodies have been found following a fire in a building where squatters live in Melbourne. Photo: Screenshot / ABC
Emergency services were called to the old factory in Footscray in the city's west late last night following reports of a fire and explosions.
Crews managed to contain the fire to a single room at the back of the property, and took about 40 minutes to extinguish.
Squatters are known to live in the factory, and there were plans to redevelop the site into apartments.
The bodies were found inside and are yet to be identified but police believe the victims may be two men and a woman.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Local Winn Phan said the people who had been living in the factory looked to be in their late 20s or early 30s.
"It's a tragedy. I pass here most days and see them," he said.
"They've made a home out of it [the factory] for themselves. They gather a lot of things.
"I've never seen any trouble, never seen any argument or anything, nothing like that."
Taxi driver heard 'screaming' when he arrived on scene
Taxi driver Mohamed Ali was passing by and saw the fire.
He said when he got to the factory he heard screams and saw someone trying to put it out.
"When I passed the street I saw the fire over there. When I was turning I heard some screaming but I was not sure who was screaming," he said.
"Then I saw the fire and I saw the front person was throwing water from the bucket but the fire was so large.
"A few minutes later I saw the fire engines come. For me, it's a horrible situation because we couldn't help. I haven't seen anything like this in my whole life. I'm not feeling good."
-ABC
