Three fire engines and around 20 firefighters were called to a fire at a flat on Southern Grove in Mile End.
Part of a two-roomed flat on the ground floor of a seven-storey block was damaged by the fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued a woman from the affected flat. She was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews where she sadly later died.
The Brigade was called at 0857 and the fire was under control by 0952. Fire crews from Bethnal Green, Whitechapel and Homerton fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.