FAMILY and friends paid tribute to Reena James, 42, who was believed to have died in a massive gas explosion in an apartment building yesterday.
She lived on the ground floor of the three-story building that collapsed after the blast started Monday at 9 a.m.†
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Neighbor Karina Caetano, 24, said she went in to rescue Reena but was beaten back by 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 had found a body in her flat, but did not confirm it was her.
Dad James Mattu, 75, added: “When we see with our own eyes it’s Reena, we’ll believe it.”
He added: “The police came last night and they spoke to me about my daughter.
“But they don’t know for 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 TV but 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 Bedford incident.