The bodies of two children have been found in a burnt-out house at Bowen Vale near Maryborough, north-west of Melbourne.
The body of a two-year-old girl was found soon after fire crews arrived at the house in Timor Road around midday AEDT. It was reported earlier that she was a 10-month-old baby.
Country Fire Authority spokesman Alfred Mason says it was several hours before they located the body of a four-year-old boy.
"The brigade arrived and found that ..
. the mother had received some burns and three of the children were with mum and it was a pretty emotional state to find the family."
The surviving family members were taken to a nearby hospital.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Brian O'Connor says it is a tragedy.
"I'm sure their community will be in mourning out at Timor Bowen Vale," he said.
"It's only a very small community of about 200 people but they're close-knit of course and it will have a detrimental reaction on that community.
"
Timor Primary School principal Russell Hawthorne says the small community of Bowen Vale is devastated.
"We are so shocked, we're a small community," he said.
"The children didn't go this school but we just can't get over it, we just can't believe it actually happened.
"
The Arson Squad is investigating.
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