3 children killed in house fire in St. Louis, Missouri

Nov 22 (Reuters) - A house fire killed three children early on Sunday in St. Louis, Missouri, according to fire officials who believe the blaze started accidentally in a dwelling without working smoke alarms.

Around 4:30 a.m. (1030 GMT), the St. Louis Fire Department responded to a house fire with three people trapped inside, the department said in a statement.

"Despite a rapid search and removal of victims we have three pediatric fatalities on the scene," the department said.

Fire investigators and a police bomb and arson squad are investigating the blaze, but its cause appeared to be accidental, officials said.

The fire killed two girls, ages 4 years and 6 years, and a 10-month-old boy, according to Fox2 News in St. Louis, which reported that two adults and eight children lived in the house.

Fire officials could not immediately be reached for additional detail.