A huge fire has engulfed a tower block in Latimer Road, west London, with eyewitnesses claiming people are trapped in their homes. The fire at Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate, north Kensington, was reported at 01:16 BST and about 200 firefighters are tackling the blaze.
The Met Police said people were being treated for “a range of injuries”. The whole tower block was alight and there are fears the building might collapse. Many people are feared to be still trapped inside the building.
Forty fire engines have been sent to the tower, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said a “major incident” had been declared. Residents continue to be evacuated from the tower block and are still being evacuated at 5:00 am BST.
The tower block is 27 stories high and has over 120 apartments. So far firefighters have suggested that floors between 2 and 24 are on fire. Eyewitness reports from residents and reporters claim that despite being pushed further and further back they are covered in ash.
The building is managed by the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea and specialist firefighters trained in providing treatment in hazardous conditions have been deployed to the area and have treated many people with a variety of injuries. So far the cause of the fire is unknown and until the 200 strong firefighters can control the blaze, it will unlikely be determined.
More as it breaks.
