West London Grenfell Tower fire
Twelve people are confirmed dead after a fire engulfed Grenfell Tower, a high-rise apartment block in West London, which started and rapidly spread on Tuesday night.
READ MORE: People trapped in huge west London tower block inferno – reports
14 June 2017
18:53 GMTMore than £145,000 ($184,000) has been raised by a series of GofundMe campaigns set up to help people affected by the tragic tower block fire.
- 18:20 GMT
- 16:35 GMT
A “considerable number of people” were in Grenfell Tower when the blaze erupted on Tuesday night, said police.
Emergency services continue the search for residents as the number of people unaccounted for is yet unknown.
#GrenfellTower blaze latest: https://t.co/dK1yvBXODI
— RT UK (@RTUKnews) June 14, 2017
- 12 confirmed dead - expected to rise
- 78 in hospital (18 critical)
- Cause unknown pic.twitter.com/WP0lePWrmv - 16:20 GMT
The Metropolitan police (MET) has confirmed the death toll from the Grenfell Tower inferno has risen to 12.
Met police commander Stuart Cundy said the death toll is likely to rise further as he does not "think any more survivors will be found".
Cundy said the incident in North Kensington would entail a “long and complex recovery operation”, but that almost all the tower block- which is thought to be the residence of between 400 and 600 people- has now been searched.
Fire at #GrenfellTower: Commander Cundy has confirmed the number of fatalities has risen to 12 "we believe this number will sadly increase"
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 14, 2017The London Fire Brigade said 250 firefighters and 40 engines “at its height” were fighting to block the blaze for dozens of hours.
The force said fire was unprecedented in “scale, speed and spread” and that forces will stay at the scene throughout the night as the incident remains “live” and “challenging”.
- 16:13 GMT
The Metropolitan police (MET) has confirmed the death toll from the Grenfell Tower inferno has risen to 12, saying it is likely the number of fatalities will increase further.
- 15:43 GMT
Labour’s newly-elected MP for Kensington and Chelsea, Emma Dent Coad, said there should be a “full inquiry” into the Grenfell Tower.
Speaking outside Rugby Portobello Trust emergency centre, Dent Coad told the BBC the fire was “absolutely appalling” and that questions must be asked about Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization and the council’s response.
At the Grenfell Tower operations site. If you wish to donate to families who have lost everything please dig deep: https://t.co/RHZEFhGZzc
— Emma Dent Coad (@emmadentcoad) June 14, 2017 - 15:27 GMT
The London Ambulance Service said 69 people have been taken to hospital, while a further 10 made their own way.
Up to 18 remain in a critical condition.
Our latest statement on #GrenfellTower. We've treated & taken
— London Ambulance (@Ldn_Ambulance) June 14, 2017
69 patients to 6 hospitals. 18 are in critical care https://t.co/5IZS0JeRW3pic.twitter.com/LPjoHjrl5p - 15:09 GMT
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has praised emergency services for their response to the Grenfell Tower blaze that killed at least six people since it broke out on Tuesday night.
Thoughts with everyone affected by Grenfell tower. Heroic emergency service response, with NHS hospital staff working tirelessly to help.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 14, 2017 - 14:23 GMT
House of Commons speaker John Bercow has extended his condolences to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
He said although Parliament cannot examine the event as normal, as it is not currently in session, ministers would still be meeting.
- 14:06 GMT
The Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has tweeted that substantial support will be given to anyone involved in the Grenfell Tower blaze.
The Council is helping anyone who needs emergency accommodation and is giving financial assistance to cover their immediate needs.
— RBKC (@RBKC) June 14, 2017