An elderly couple whose house caught fire in south Sydney early Monday morning are missing, feared dead.

The bodies of two people were found inside the home on King Georges Road, Penshurst, which started burning at some time before 3:30am.

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Fireman Mark Fagan told journalists the man and woman were likely inside the building.

“We believe so,” he said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

A third occupant, believed to be male, reportedly escaped the burning home after a smoke alarm awoke him.

Fire crews struggled to enter the building to fight the fire because of hoarded possessions, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The home’s roof reportedly collapsed minutes after the crew arrived at approximately 3:30am.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze.