Tributes for a 42-year-old woman killed in a horrific gas explosion at an apartment building

FAMILY and friends yesterday paid tribute to 42-year-old Reena James, who is believed to have died in a massive gas explosion at a block of flats.

She lived on the ground floor of the three-storey building that collapsed after the blast started a fire at 9am Monday.

1

Neighbor Karina Caetano, 24, said she went inside to save Reena but was knocked back by the smoke.

She said, “She was a good friend and always very nice to me.”

Reena’s brother Peter Masih, 46, said police told the family they found a body at their home but did not confirm it was her.

Dad James Mattu, 75, added: “If we see with our own eyes that it’s Reena then we’re going to believe it.”

He added: “The police came last night and spoke to me about my daughter.

“But they’re not sure yet, we haven’t seen our daughter yet. So, I don’t know what’s going on.

“I know the explosion and one dead and three injured, I watched on TV but I didn’t think it was my daughter.

“I’ve been in the building many times, they said they found my daughter, but it’s too hot to keep looking.

Three others, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital after the incident in Bedford.