UPDATE: Uncle taken into custody following fire that killed three siblings

The police have arrested the uncle of the siblings who perished in a house fire last night in Hopeful Village in Admiral Town, Kingston.

However, head of the West Kingston police, Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor says the man is believed to be suffering from a mental illness.

The dead children have been identified as 15-year-old Leonard Morris of Excelsior High School and nine-year-old Abigail Reid of Iris Gelly Primary School and 18-year-old Bebeto Harris, who is a student of Tarrant High School.

The Admiral Town Police say about 1:30 this morning the fire department and the Police were called to the location of the fire.

However, Public Relations Officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Emeleo Ebanks says it was too late to rescue the children.

Ebanks says a team from the brigade is investigating.

However, he notes that it will be difficult to determine the cause of the blaze due to the extent of the damage.

Damage to property is estimated at $5 million.