Nine people have died after a fire at Gabriel House assisted living facility saw people screaming for help as their family members desperately smashed windows in an attempt to rescue them

At least nine people have died in a huge fire at an assisted living facility in Massachusetts, authorities said Monday.

In horrifying scenes, people were spotted hanging out of windows and screaming for help as the blaze broke out. At least 30 people were also injured.

Firefighters responded the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River at about 9.50pm on Sunday and were met with heavy smoke and flames billowing out of the front of the building. Occupants were trapped inside the facility, where around 70 people live, the state Department of Fire Services said in a news release.

The fire was extinguished by Monday morning and firefighters were able to rescue numerous residents but some of the bodies of the dead remained inside.

Many of the rescued were rushed to local and regional hospitals in varying conditions. At least one remains in critical condition.

Around 50 firefighters responded to the inferno, including 30 who'd been off duty. Five firefighters suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said.

“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” said Chief Jeffrey Bacon. Describing the horrifying incident, he continued: “Multiple people were hanging out the windows looking to be rescued.”

Police said family members of those living at the facility turned up and were desperately attempting to break windows to save their loved ones.

Leo Johnson, 45, of Fall River, was among the panicked relatives. He told The Boston Globe he rushed over to find his 68-year-old mother, who lives on the top floor of Gabriel House.

“I was kinda freaking out because she wasn’t one of the ones outside,” he said. He eventually found her, saying she was outside soaking wet because the sprinklers were going off.

Joe Alves, who lives several houses down from the facility, recalled hearing a wave of sirens while watching TV. He said he witnessed officials pulling bodies and injured pets out of the blazing building.

He said some were pouring bottles of water on people's burns in a desperate attempt to help. “There were people in wheelchairs, a lot of people missing limbs, it was terrible,” he said, choking up slightly.

The fire was contained to one wing of the building. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

The Fall River Police Department in a statement said that “without hesitation, officers entered the smoke-filled facility, breaking down doors and escorting residents to safety.

“Approximately a dozen non-ambulatory residents were physically carried out by our officers. Their bravery and quick action undoubtedly saved many lives.”