Two women and three children from the same family died in a Buenos Aires apartment building fire Thursday that saw 35 others rushed to several hospitals, emergency services said.

The fire broke out at about 6:00 am on the seventh floor of a building in the central Recoleta neighborhood, and spread rapidly to the eighth floor, fire officer Pablo Giardina said.

The fire broke out on the seventh floor of a 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires, and quickly spread to the eighth
The fire broke out on the seventh floor of a 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires, and quickly spread to the eighth AFP / Luis ROBAYO

The two women and three children were evacuated alive but died on their way to hospital of smoke inhalation and burns, added SAME emergency services head Alberto Crescenti.

A male relative, aged 52, was in serious condition in hospital.

He was among the 35 people receiving treatment for various injuries.

The cause of the fire in Buenos Aireas is not yet known
The cause of the fire in Buenos Aireas is not yet known AFP / Magali CERVANTES

Police and rescuers were among those in hospital, according to officials.

Prosecutor Sebastian Fedullo, in charge of the investigation, said the cause of the fire in the 14-floor building appears to have been accidental, with no evidence of an explosion.