A 70-year-old man was found dead in Msida on Wednesday morning after a fire developed in the apartment he lived in, the police said. 

The man who died has been named as Joe Dimech. He was found in the block of apartment's shaft. The man had apparently tried to escape from the flames by climbing down the shaft.

His body was discovered after firefighters deployed a drone.

Two other people, a 25-year-old man and 66-year-old woman, the man's son and wife, were rushed to hospital for treatment. Both suffered serious injuries.

The fire, in Triq Oscar Zammit, was reported at 7.10am and was later controlled by Civil Protection Department Officers. It is believed that it was caused after a gas cylider exploded.

The apartment is on the fourth floor of the block. 

Magistrate Simone Grech is conducting an inquiry.