An elderly Maltese woman is in intensive care after a deadly blaze tore through a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, on Friday, killing five people and injuring around 30.

Manuela Cachia, 75, who has been living in Australia since 1955, is currently being treated at Westmead Hospital after inhaling smoke, Dominican nun Georgina Sultana told The Sunday Times last night.

Another Maltese woman is believed to reside in the nursing home though details about her were still unclear.

Thousands of Maltese migrants live in the western suburbs of New South Wales, located 40 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district.

The Maltese chaplain of the diocese of Parramatta, Fr Benedict Sant, said the nursing home had over the years housed several Maltese.

A local Maltese community member regularly visits nursing homes in the area, Fr Sant said when contacted.

Sr Sultana, residing in Blacktown, is in contact with the nursing home. She said the Dominican nuns had prepared a room to welcome any elderly people who needed to be housed, following the incident.

Patients of Quakers Hill nursing home had been taken out in the open on beds and in wheelchairs until they were transported to alternative accommodation.

Firefighters, police, a medical team and tens of people living in neighbouring houses raced against time to help more than 80 elderly people; however, three of them died in the fire. Two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.