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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/jun/14/grenfell-tower-major-fire-london-apartment-block-white-city-latimer-road
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| London fire: fears of people trapped as major blaze engulfs tower block – latest | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.20am BST | |
| 04:20 | |
| Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, has tweeted urging people to follow London Fire Brigade on Twitter for updates. | |
| Major incident declared at Grenfell Tower in Kensington. 40 fire engines & 200 firefighters at the scene - follow @LondonFire for updates. | |
| 4.16am BST | |
| 04:16 | |
| George Clarke, the host of the Channel 4 show Amazing Spaces who earlier spoke to Radio 5 Live, has posted this on Instagram. | |
| 4.14am BST | |
| 04:14 | |
| Alice Ross, my colleague in London, is near the scene and reports that the building is “completely ablaze” as debris continues to fall form the floors. | |
| Grenfell Tower in White City is completely ablaze. Chunks of flaming debris can be seen falling from the upper floors pic.twitter.com/X8clZnufdY | |
| 4.12am BST | |
| 04:12 | |
| The sun is starting to dawn on west London, where it has just gone 4am. Fabio Bebber is continuing to tweet images from the scene – this one was posted within the last 10 minutes. | |
| We can hear fire brigade replying to people who are still trapped #grenfelltower pic.twitter.com/iWG76cb4RM | |
| It is easy to see how the fire spread from one side of the tower in the hours since emergency services were called at around 1am – compare the above image to one taken by Bebber three hours ago. | |
| Fire consuming Grenfell Tower. People screaming for their lives. Horrible #London #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/hhvfNNuq1C | |
| 4.09am BST | |
| 04:09 | |
| Where is the Grenfell Tower? | |
| 4.08am BST | |
| 04:08 | |
| Fire Brigade: the cause of the fire is not yet known | |
| The LFB has posted an update on Facebook: | |
| Forty fire engines and over 200 firefighters and officers have been called to a tower block fire on the Lancaster West estate in north Kensington this morning. | |
| The Brigade has received multiple calls. The fire is from the second floor to the top floor of the 27 floor building. | |
| Assistant Commissioner Dan Daly said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are 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.” | |
| The Brigade was called at 0054 and is still at the scene. Fire crews from North Kensington, Kensington, Hammersmith and Paddington and from surrounding fire stations are in attendance. | |
| The cause of the fire is not known at this stage. | |
| Firefighters working hard to bring fire under control on Lancaster West Estate #NorthKensington https://t.co/Gy6gUYc4ML pic.twitter.com/ptd6dOUTE7 | |
| 4.06am BST | |
| 04:06 | |
| A nearby resident, named as Sofia, also told Radio 5: | |
| “I kept hearing what I thought were loud banging sounds … I looked out of the window and said Grenfell Tower was burning down.” | |
| She said, as other eyewitnesses have done, said the fire began one side but quickly spread across the whole building. | |
| “I have not seen a survivor, someone pulled out of the building and being treated by an ambulance. I think it confirms my worst fear that people are dying in this building.” | |
| She said the noises began around 1.15am, and the fire had spread very rapidly. | |
| “I heard loads of young girls crying out for help … I can’t see any ladders extending into the building … I can hear people screaming for help and they are dying.” | |
| But another eyewitness said he had seen groups of people, “at least three families”, leaving the building at different exits, but added that he had heard that staircases inside were now on fire. | |
| 4.05am BST | |
| 04:05 | |
| One eyewitness, Victoria Goldsmith, has told Sky News: | |
| “The whole building seems to be engulfed now. It’s spread all the way to the top. I heard it at about 1am and I ran out to see if I could help, and there were already people there. | |
| “There was literally two people trapped at the top and they had mobile phones and they had the lights trying to flash them and signal people... They couldn’t get to them ... fire kept going and the lights went out. “ | |
| “They are trying to get it under control. It’s pretty horrendous.” | |
| 4.03am BST | |
| 04:03 | |
| More horrific footage shared by Fabio Bebber. | |
| https://t.co/WMd5x7TfLk | |
| #grenfelltower pic.twitter.com/DiAussK7mC | |
| People still there. #grenfelltower being consumed pic.twitter.com/12qD45vKK7 | |
| The smell of it. Fire now covers all windows where people were. #grenfelltower #london pic.twitter.com/4Dp7LnGDGR | |
| 4.03am BST | |
| 04:03 | |
| George Clarke, who presents Channel 4 show Amazing Spaces, told Radio 5 Live: “I was in bed and heard ‘beep, beep, beep’ and thought, ‘I’ll get up and run downstairs as quickly as I could’. | |
| “I thought it might be a car alarm outside and saw the glow through the windows. | |
| “I’m getting covered in ash, that’s how bad it is. 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. | |
| “The guys are doing an incredible job to try and get people out that building, but it’s truly awful.” | |
| 4.01am BST | |
| 04:01 | |
| The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that “a number of people are being treated for a range of injuries” on Twitter. That’s further to the earlier report that two people were being treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. | |
| Residents continue to be evacuated from the tower block fire in #NorthKensington. A number of people being treated for a range of injuries. | |
| There has been still no word from emergency services as to whether people are trapped inside the building but, judging by the plentiful eyewitness accounts, the question is not if, but how many. | |
| It is also still not clear whether the building has 24 storeys or 27 storeys, with conflicting accounts from authorities and the architects that recently renovated the tower. We will endeavour to bring you clarity as soon as possible. | |
| 3.57am BST | |
| 03:57 | |
| Two hours ago, Fabio Bebber tweeted that the fire was “consuming” Grenfell Tower: “People screaming for their lives. Horrible.” | |
| Fire consuming Grenfell Tower. People screaming for their lives. Horrible #London #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/hhvfNNuq1C | |
| Bebber’s report that people were trapped within the building, “screaming for their lives”, has been corroborated by other eyewitnesses, but emergency services have not yet given any details beyond two people being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. | |
| Outside now, people are still trapped on their flats. Lights are out on the top floors #grenfelltower pic.twitter.com/7NhDepnHAs | |
| Fire brigade asking the public outside to move back. #grenfelltower pic.twitter.com/RlPgTziQuH | |
| #grenfelltower #fire still burning pic.twitter.com/iWc90MFY4J | |
| #grenfelltower fire still on pic.twitter.com/8icVVaezA3 | |
| Bebber tweeted that there was a “very strong smell” from the blaze, and a police officer had asked those gathered outside to ask if anyone was in touch with people inside the tower by phone. | |
| Bebber said he saw someone with a flashlight on the top floor, echoing other eyewitnesses’ accounts of people trapped inside the building, desperately signalling for help with their phones or lights. | |
| Fire is getting worse and people are still screaming for help#grenfelltower pic.twitter.com/tafB2Cp6tD | |
| More screams for help as the fire spreads to another side of the building. #grenfelltower #london #fire pic.twitter.com/nfuIfSUt3Y | |
| Bebber said that as the blaze moved from one side of the building to the other, engulfing it in flames, onlookers were moved away from the scene by authorities. He said he saw no ladders or water sprays outside the building. | |
| 3.47am BST | 3.47am BST |
| 03:47 | 03:47 |
| An eyewitness who gave his name as Rio told Sky News UK he could see the fire from his kitchen window. He had been alerted to the blaze by the sound of distant smoke alarms. | An eyewitness who gave his name as Rio told Sky News UK he could see the fire from his kitchen window. He had been alerted to the blaze by the sound of distant smoke alarms. |
| It began on one side of the building but has engulfed the block in the last two hours, stretching from the second floor to the top. Rio said fire fighters could not physically reach the upper floors of the block from their trucks. | It began on one side of the building but has engulfed the block in the last two hours, stretching from the second floor to the top. Rio said fire fighters could not physically reach the upper floors of the block from their trucks. |
| London Ambulance says it has sent a “number of resources” to the scene, including its specialist Hazardous Area Response Team of medics who specialise in providing medical care in hazardous environments. | London Ambulance says it has sent a “number of resources” to the scene, including its specialist Hazardous Area Response Team of medics who specialise in providing medical care in hazardous environments. |
| We have sent a number of resources to this incident including @LAS_HART More information will follow when we have it #NorthKensington https://t.co/ivlwgydZDT | We have sent a number of resources to this incident including @LAS_HART More information will follow when we have it #NorthKensington https://t.co/ivlwgydZDT |
| Reports that people are trapped inside the building have not yet been confirmed by authorities. | Reports that people are trapped inside the building have not yet been confirmed by authorities. |
| 3.40am BST | 3.40am BST |
| 03:40 | 03:40 |
| Grenfell Tower on fire outside my flat. Never experienced such terror in my life. Hope everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/x5gJin5Ltl | Grenfell Tower on fire outside my flat. Never experienced such terror in my life. Hope everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/x5gJin5Ltl |
| 3.37am BST | 3.37am BST |
| 03:37 | 03:37 |
| Kasia Madera, a presenter with BBC World News, says smoke is visible from Hammersmith. The Westway A40 is now closed in both directions, with a “huge plume of smoke” reaching across it from the site of the “enormous fire” on Latimer Road. There are lots of helicopters overhead, she says. | Kasia Madera, a presenter with BBC World News, says smoke is visible from Hammersmith. The Westway A40 is now closed in both directions, with a “huge plume of smoke” reaching across it from the site of the “enormous fire” on Latimer Road. There are lots of helicopters overhead, she says. |
| The London Fire Brigade has tweeted, in the last 20 minutes, that crews are continuing to work hard at the tower block fire, which is from the second to top floor of the 27-storey building. (However, the architects who renovated the building have put it at 24 storeys – we’ll clarify as soon as we know for sure.) | The London Fire Brigade has tweeted, in the last 20 minutes, that crews are continuing to work hard at the tower block fire, which is from the second to top floor of the 27-storey building. (However, the architects who renovated the building have put it at 24 storeys – we’ll clarify as soon as we know for sure.) |
| Crews continue to work hard at tower block fire in #NorthKensington Fire is from 2nd to top floor of 27 storey building pic.twitter.com/lAwhZl6Jf3 | Crews continue to work hard at tower block fire in #NorthKensington Fire is from 2nd to top floor of 27 storey building pic.twitter.com/lAwhZl6Jf3 |
| 3.30am BST | 3.30am BST |
| 03:30 | 03:30 |
| More footage of the blaze. | More footage of the blaze. |
| 3.23am BST | 3.23am BST |
| 03:23 | 03:23 |
| While this is a developing story, from photos and videos of the blaze posted to social media, it is clear that the fire at Grenfell Tower is serious, with flames engulfing the 24-storey building. | While this is a developing story, from photos and videos of the blaze posted to social media, it is clear that the fire at Grenfell Tower is serious, with flames engulfing the 24-storey building. |
| Celeste Thomas, who lives across the road from the building, has been tweeting from the scene as firefighters struggle to bring the enormous blaze under control. She says she saw falling debris and could hear damage from inside. | Celeste Thomas, who lives across the road from the building, has been tweeting from the scene as firefighters struggle to bring the enormous blaze under control. She says she saw falling debris and could hear damage from inside. |
| West London, Latimer Road, right now. Struggling to bring fire under control. 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Ukih8cCI49 | West London, Latimer Road, right now. Struggling to bring fire under control. 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Ukih8cCI49 |
| Thomas tweeted that “hundreds” of people were outside the building, among them residents and families trying to find each other. Police were moving crowds away from the building to allow ambulances drive through. | Thomas tweeted that “hundreds” of people were outside the building, among them residents and families trying to find each other. Police were moving crowds away from the building to allow ambulances drive through. |
| She said she had been asked by police to go inside her home, across the road from the apartment block: “Fire spread and not yet showing signs of coming under control. ... Smoke turned darker now.” | She said she had been asked by police to go inside her home, across the road from the apartment block: “Fire spread and not yet showing signs of coming under control. ... Smoke turned darker now.” |
| Forty fire engines had been at the scene for over an hour, said Thomas. | Forty fire engines had been at the scene for over an hour, said Thomas. |
| #WestLondon #LatimerRoad #GrenfellTower #W11 #Fire pic.twitter.com/3NePgkDcR3 | #WestLondon #LatimerRoad #GrenfellTower #W11 #Fire pic.twitter.com/3NePgkDcR3 |
| View from the bedroom. Cracking heard as floors collapse. #WestLondon #LatimerRoad #GrenfellTower #Fire pic.twitter.com/Gnjm9bw7kp | View from the bedroom. Cracking heard as floors collapse. #WestLondon #LatimerRoad #GrenfellTower #Fire pic.twitter.com/Gnjm9bw7kp |
| 3.08am BST | 3.08am BST |
| 03:08 | 03:08 |
| Huge fire breaks out in 24-storey Grenfell Tower | Huge fire breaks out in 24-storey Grenfell Tower |
| Elle Hunt | Elle Hunt |
| A block of flats in London is on fire, with people reportedly trapped inside. | A block of flats in London is on fire, with people reportedly trapped inside. |
| Forty fire engines and 200 firefighters are battling the blaze at the Lancaster West Estate tower block, a 24-storey building in Latimer Road in White City. | Forty fire engines and 200 firefighters are battling the blaze at the Lancaster West Estate tower block, a 24-storey building in Latimer Road in White City. |
| The Metropolitan police were called to the apartment building at 1.15am on Wednesday, and officers and the London Ambulance Service have joined London Fire Brigade at the scene. An evacuation process is underway. | The Metropolitan police were called to the apartment building at 1.15am on Wednesday, and officers and the London Ambulance Service have joined London Fire Brigade at the scene. An evacuation process is underway. |
| Police said two people were being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but reports from the scene suggest people are trapped inside their homes. More than 200 people live in the block. | Police said two people were being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but reports from the scene suggest people are trapped inside their homes. More than 200 people live in the block. |
| We’ll be reporting updates as we receive them. | We’ll be reporting updates as we receive them. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.09am BST | at 3.09am BST |