WASHINGTON - Four children were killed when a fire swept through a mobile house on Wednesday afternoon in US state of South Carolina, local media reported.

Local TV station WBTW-TV reported the incident happened around 1:45 pm in Hartsville, northern South Carolina, quoting Darlington County Fire officials.

The single wide mobile home was engulfed in flames when fire crews first arrived.

Russell Cox, spokesman for the city of Hartsville, confirmed that the bodies of four children were found inside the burned house.

The road leading to the home has been blocked by rescue crews.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.