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London fire: Flames engulf tower block London fire: Flames engulf tower block
(35 minutes later)
A huge fire has raged through the night at a west London tower block, with eyewitnesses claiming people were trapped inside. Thirty people are in hospital and there are fears that more may be unaccounted for after a huge fire raged through the night at a west London tower block.
More than 200 firefighters are still tackling the blaze at Grenfell Tower in north Kensington, where hundreds of people are thought to live. Firefighters are still tackling the blaze at Grenfell Tower in north Kensington, where hundreds of people are thought to live.
London Ambulance said 30 people are receiving hospital treatment. Eyewitnesses reported seeing people trapped inside their homes.
The BBC's Andy Moore said the whole 24-storey block had been alight and there were fears the building might collapse.The BBC's Andy Moore said the whole 24-storey block had been alight and there were fears the building might collapse.
BBC correspondent Simon Lederman said he understood "a significant number of people" were unaccounted for. Eyewitnesses said they saw lights - thought to be mobile phones or torches - flashing at the top of the block of flats, and trapped residents coming to their windows.
At 6.15 BST, London Ambulance Service said 20 ambulance crews had been at the scene, 30 people had been taken to hospital, but the nature and level of their injuries was not yet clear. The Met Police has set up an emergency number on 0800 0961 233 for anyone concerned about friends or family.
At 06:15 BST, London Ambulance Service said 20 ambulance crews had been at the scene, 30 people had been taken to hospital, but the nature and level of their injuries was not yet clear.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said a "major incident" had been declared.Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said a "major incident" had been declared.
At about 04:00 BST police said: "Residents continue to be evacuated from the tower block." Three hours after the fire started, police said people were continuing to be evacuated from the tower.
Eyewitnesses said they have seen lights - thought to be mobile phones or torches - flashing at the top of the block of flats. Paul Munakr, who lives on the seventh floor, managed to escape.
Others say residents - thought to be trapped inside - were seen coming to their windows. "As I was going down the stairs, there were firefighters, truly amazing firefighters that were actually going upstairs, to the fire, trying to get as many people out the building as possible," he told the BBC.
An unmanned hydraulic platform has been shooting water at the side of the building at about the 10th floor. He said he was alerted to the fire not by fire alarms but by people on the street below, shouting "don't jump, don't jump".
Simon Lederman said firefighters had not been able to tackle the flames on higher storeys. "Now, honestly I don't know for certain if people jumped off the building to get away from the fire, but the main thing for me with this incident is the fact that the fire alarms didn't go off in the building," he said.
He said the tower could be seen burning "from miles away", adding that the building had been "burning out of control", from the tenth floor onwards. The BBC's Andy Moore said: "We've seen debris falling from the building, we've heard explosions, we've heard the sound of glass breaking.
Andy Moore added: "We've seen debris falling from the building, we've heard explosions, we've heard the sound of glass breaking.
"The police keep pushing back their cordons, pushing back members of the public for fear the building might collapse.""The police keep pushing back their cordons, pushing back members of the public for fear the building might collapse."
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Dan Daly said firefighters were "working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire".London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Dan Daly said firefighters were "working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire".
"This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances.""This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances."
London Ambulance Service medics specially trained in life-saving medical care in hazardous environments have also been sent to the fire.London Ambulance Service medics specially trained in life-saving medical care in hazardous environments have also been sent to the fire.
The first reports of fire in the tower, in Latimer Road, on the Lancaster West Estate, came in at 00:54 BST.The first reports of fire in the tower, in Latimer Road, on the Lancaster West Estate, came in at 00:54 BST.
The A40 Westway was closed in both directions. London Underground said the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines have been closed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith.The A40 Westway was closed in both directions. London Underground said the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines have been closed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith.
Safety concernsSafety concerns
According to Kensington and Chelsea Council, the tower block contains 120 flats and is 24 storeys high.According to Kensington and Chelsea Council, the tower block contains 120 flats and is 24 storeys high.
It is managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) on behalf of the council and had undergone a two-year, £10m refurbishment that was completed last year.It is managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) on behalf of the council and had undergone a two-year, £10m refurbishment that was completed last year.
The work included new exterior cladding and a communal heating system.The work included new exterior cladding and a communal heating system.
The local Grenfell Action Group had claimed, before and during the refurbishment, the block constituted a fire risk and residents had warned that access to the site for emergency vehicles was "severely restricted".The local Grenfell Action Group had claimed, before and during the refurbishment, the block constituted a fire risk and residents had warned that access to the site for emergency vehicles was "severely restricted".
The BBC has been unable to contact the property's management company in the hours since the fire.The BBC has been unable to contact the property's management company in the hours since the fire.
One eyewitness, George Clarke, the presenter of Channel 4 TV programme Amazing Spaces, told Radio 5 Live: "I'm getting covered in ash, that's how bad it is.One eyewitness, George Clarke, the presenter of Channel 4 TV programme Amazing Spaces, told Radio 5 Live: "I'm getting covered in ash, that's how bad it is.
"I'm 100 metres away and I'm absolutely covered in ash."I'm 100 metres away and I'm absolutely covered in ash.
"It's so heartbreaking, I've seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can't get out.""It's so heartbreaking, I've seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can't get out."
Jody Martin said he ran towards the building to try and help when he saw the fire.Jody Martin said he ran towards the building to try and help when he saw the fire.
He said he was shouting at people to "get out, get out" but that residents were shouting back that they were stuck as corridors inside the building were filled with smoke.He said he was shouting at people to "get out, get out" but that residents were shouting back that they were stuck as corridors inside the building were filled with smoke.
'Building crumbling''Building crumbling'
Tim Downie, another eyewitness, told the BBC part of the building was "completely burned away".Tim Downie, another eyewitness, told the BBC part of the building was "completely burned away".
"It has burned through to its very core," he said."It has burned through to its very core," he said.
"It looks very bad, very very bad. I've never seen anything like this. It's just such a big fire."It looks very bad, very very bad. I've never seen anything like this. It's just such a big fire.
"The whole building is just crumbling. It's just billowing black smoke.""The whole building is just crumbling. It's just billowing black smoke."
Safiyah, who is about 500m away from the building, said: "There are lots of people gathered in the street. I just see more and more flames burning and tragically I hear people crying for help.Safiyah, who is about 500m away from the building, said: "There are lots of people gathered in the street. I just see more and more flames burning and tragically I hear people crying for help.
"The entire building is burning through.""The entire building is burning through."