A four-year-old girl has died and her two cousins have been injured in a pitbull terrier attack in Melbourne's northwest.
Police say the attack happened at a house in Lahy Street, St Albans, at 8.10pm (AEST).
It is believed the dog escaped from a neighbour's yard and entered the home where Ayen Chol and her five-year-old cousin were playing.
Ayen died at the scene despite ambulance officers' attempts to revive her.
Another cousin, aged 30, suffered bite wounds to her hands and arms, while the five-year-old girl was bitten on the face.
Daniel Atem, another cousin of the victims, described Ayen as "a lovely little girl, very talkative and popular in kindergarten".
Ayen's mother, Jaclin Appok, 30, is being comforted by Sudanese community leaders, while her father is in Southern Sudan helping the country with its recently won independence.
The family arrived in Australia in 2004 after spending three years in Egypt awaiting resettlement.
They were living at their cousin's house after their own home burned down.
Superintendent Graham Kent of Victoria Police described the incident as a horrible tragedy. He said when police arrived at the scene, it was chaotic and very distressing.
They are trying to establish the circumstances of how the dog was able to enter the home where the attack took place.
Supt Kent said it was likely the dog would be put down and added the owner of the animal was cooperating with police.
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