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| Version 25 | Version 26 |
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| London fire: Twelve confirmed dead but police expect further fatalities after tower block blaze – latest updates | London fire: Twelve confirmed dead but police expect further fatalities after tower block blaze – latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.23pm BST | |
| 18:23 | |
| Lisa O'Carroll | |
| The Westway sports centre, near the tower, has been converted into an enormous emergency shelter following the Grenfell disaster. | |
| Alex Russell, the director of communications for the Westway trust, the charity behind the centre, said they could accommodate 300 people tonight. The basement sports hall was covered with hundreds of airbeds, mattresses and duvets donated by locals from early this morning. Russell, speaking as the acrid smell from the still-smouldering 24 floor charred carcass hung in the air, said: | |
| We have been told to expect people not from the Grenfall Tower but the houses around the area that had to be evacuated. We are expected several hundred and are welcoming people from now. | |
| The reception area was full of tables groaning with donated essentials including bread, water, milk, cereals and other food. | |
| The Westway operation swung into action independently of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said Russell. | |
| The trust owns the land here and this morning we just thought we have an opportunity to help and the gym is a large, very safe place. | |
| 6.19pm BST | |
| 18:19 | |
| Housing activists have called the tower block fire a tragedy that was the result of a “combination of government cuts, local authority mismanagement, and sheer contempt for council tenants and the homes they live in”. | |
| The statement was released by a network that counts among its members the Grenfell Action Group, which had warned about the danger of such a tragedy and claimed the local council was ignoring its concerns. | |
| The statement from the London-wide Radical Housing Network demanded that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea offered Grenfell residents “secure, long-term local housing”. | |
| The fire at Grenfell is a horrific, preventable tragedy for which authorities and politicians must be held to account. Grenfell’s council tenants are not second-class citizens – yet they are facing a disaster unimaginable in Kensington’s richer neighbourhoods. | |
| This government, and many before it, have neglected council housing and disregarded its tenants as if they were second class. Nationally and locally, politicians have subjected public housing to decades of systematic disinvestment – leaving properties in a state of disrepair, and open to privatisation. Regeneration, when it has come, has been for the benefit of developers and buy-to-let landlords, who profit from the new luxury flats built in place of affordable homes. Across London, regeneration has meant evictions, poor quality building work, and has given tenants little meaningful influence over the future of their estates. | |
| The chronic underinvestment in council housing and contempt for tenants must stop. It is an outrage that in 21st-century Britain, authorities cannot be trusted to provide safe housing, and that people in council properties cannot put children safely to bed at night. | |
| The group also called for Gavin Barwell to resign as Theresa May’s chief of staff after he was accused of sitting on a report warning about the dangers of fire in high-rise blocks during his time as housing minister. | |
| We support demands for a public inquiry into this disaster – there must be justice for Grenfell. We call for the immediate resignation of Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s chief of staff, alongside anyone else whose negligence has contributed to this tragedy. | |
| All Grenfell Tower residents must be offered secure, long-term local housing by RBKC, and the estate must be fully rebuilt so that no social housing is lost – this should not be an opportunity for the council to privatise homes, or for someone to make a quick buck. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.23pm BST | |
| 5.58pm BST | |
| 17:58 | |
| Harriet Sherwood | |
| Tensions have erupted in clashes with the police outside the Rugby Portobello trust, which is acting as a centre for dispossessed people. | |
| The road outside the club was packed with people, some in tears and some wailing. A fracas broke out, apparently over a journalist trying to film a distraught woman. Some men moved to protect the woman and, within seconds, a large contingent of police officers were jostling with the crowd amid shouting and screaming. | |
| Angry angry scenes here. One family heard some bad news. Anger turned on a cameraman and now this. Grenfell Tower. pic.twitter.com/1P1yUb7guL | |
| One onlooker said the police and media were acting insensitively towards people whose loved ones were missing following the fire. “Emotions are running very high,” he said. | |
| Superintendent Graham Price told the Guardian it wasn’t entirely clear what had caused the “disorder”, but he had reports that people in the local community could not get through on casualty helplines and had congregated at the trust. | |
| “Some felt the media was being overly intrusive and that led to a bit of disorder,” he said. | |
| Calm was swiftly restored but the incident was an indication of rising levels of anger and distress among locals. | |
| Supt Price said the police were dealing with a very complex situation. “There are 24 floors [in Grenfell Tower] and around 200 residents and a lot unaccounted for. This is a very difficult time.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.18pm BST | |
| 5.54pm BST | |
| 17:54 | |
| Lisa O'Carroll | |
| Kensington council has swung emergency accommodation plans into action with hundreds of stranded families being put up tonight in a local gym. | |
| A spokeswoman said it had three “rest centres” open during the day for residents who had lost their homes and residents from neighbouring streets who had been evacuated overnight. | |
| The three rest centres, where emergency housing officers are on hand are: the Rugby Portobello trust, Walmer Road, W11 4EY; St Clement church, Treadgold Street, W11 4BP; and the Westway sports centre, Crowthoren Road, W10 6RP, which will also provide emergency overnight accommodation. | |
| “We are attempting to house everyone affected,” said a spokeswoman. “Anyone who is affected can call us on a special number 0207 361 3008.” | |
| A short distance from the Grenfell Tower, the Tabernacle Christian centre was inundated with donations of food, clothing, and toiletries. | |
| Brisk business being down in Tabernacle Christian Centre where donations gratefully received pic.twitter.com/xZyGBB8ljx | |
| Tabernacle Christian centre still taking donations, but no more clothes, food, unclean underwear, nappies and toiletries still taken pic.twitter.com/A3hYS29Oac | |
| By 5.30pm, it was asking the public not to bring any more clothing but said nappies, toothbrushes, women’s sanitary wear and clean or new underwear for both men and women would still be accepted. | |
| “We have taken so much we have to overspill into the garden. We need gazebos now to shelter the donations,” said senior pastor Derek Wilson. | |
| 5.48pm BST | 5.48pm BST |
| 17:48 | 17:48 |
| Checks are to be carried out on other tower blocks going through similar refurbishment to Grenfell Tower, the policing and fire minister Nick Hurd says. | Checks are to be carried out on other tower blocks going through similar refurbishment to Grenfell Tower, the policing and fire minister Nick Hurd says. |
| 5.45pm BST | 5.45pm BST |
| 17:45 | 17:45 |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| Julian Redhead is an A&E consultant at St Mary’s and medical director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He was called into work on the night of the fire at Grenfell Tower. | Julian Redhead is an A&E consultant at St Mary’s and medical director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He was called into work on the night of the fire at Grenfell Tower. |
| I was at home fast asleep when I heard about the fire – my phone went off at about 1.30 to 2am. I’m hazy on the exact time. I was disorientated at first. I grabbed my clothes and headed to the car, my wife had to help me find my car keys. In those situations you don’t wait for anything else, you go into work. | I was at home fast asleep when I heard about the fire – my phone went off at about 1.30 to 2am. I’m hazy on the exact time. I was disorientated at first. I grabbed my clothes and headed to the car, my wife had to help me find my car keys. In those situations you don’t wait for anything else, you go into work. |
| I live almost next door to Grenfell Tower, so I got to the hospital about 15 minutes later. On my way in, I could see the entire block engulfed in flames and it hit home – it was so clear that something horrific had happened. | I live almost next door to Grenfell Tower, so I got to the hospital about 15 minutes later. On my way in, I could see the entire block engulfed in flames and it hit home – it was so clear that something horrific had happened. |
| As I drove, I thought about the type of injuries I could see. I ran through scenarios in my head. I was preparing myself mentally. | As I drove, I thought about the type of injuries I could see. I ran through scenarios in my head. I was preparing myself mentally. |
| Of all the 16 patients we saw, the primary problem we treated was smoke inhalation. Three of those patients needed critical care. I cannot say too much more at the moment as our concern is for the relatives and making sure they know about injuries first. | Of all the 16 patients we saw, the primary problem we treated was smoke inhalation. Three of those patients needed critical care. I cannot say too much more at the moment as our concern is for the relatives and making sure they know about injuries first. |
| But, when I arrived, the hospital was calm. The triage centre was set up ready to receive patients. All the areas were prepared and, within about 20 minutes, a large group of patients arrived. From then on, the flow of patients was steady but spread out over a longer period. | But, when I arrived, the hospital was calm. The triage centre was set up ready to receive patients. All the areas were prepared and, within about 20 minutes, a large group of patients arrived. From then on, the flow of patients was steady but spread out over a longer period. |
| The patients were very scared and disorientated but relieved to be in a safe position now. We talked to them and offered support but the stories from the night tend to come out later. | The patients were very scared and disorientated but relieved to be in a safe position now. We talked to them and offered support but the stories from the night tend to come out later. |
| I was leading my team, so making sure the right decisions were being made and people were getting the best care. We have a strict system in place: you check people’s airways to begin with; check how they are breathing and their circulation. You make sure they haven’t lost blood and then look at their neurological status and any other injuries. | I was leading my team, so making sure the right decisions were being made and people were getting the best care. We have a strict system in place: you check people’s airways to begin with; check how they are breathing and their circulation. You make sure they haven’t lost blood and then look at their neurological status and any other injuries. |
| I am still in hospital now and have been here since 2am. The main thing for me today is to go home and get some sleep. Going home to family and being with them is important as we live nearby. Tomorrow is often when things start to hit home, that is when emotions start to come through. | I am still in hospital now and have been here since 2am. The main thing for me today is to go home and get some sleep. Going home to family and being with them is important as we live nearby. Tomorrow is often when things start to hit home, that is when emotions start to come through. |
| I have seen large fires before in my career but nothing on this scale. I have been involved in lots of major incidents in my career but it does make a difference when it’s so close to home. When you can look out of the window and see that tower block. It’s a landmark I can see from my house but it will look very different when I get home. | I have seen large fires before in my career but nothing on this scale. I have been involved in lots of major incidents in my career but it does make a difference when it’s so close to home. When you can look out of the window and see that tower block. It’s a landmark I can see from my house but it will look very different when I get home. |
| 5.40pm BST | 5.40pm BST |
| 17:40 | 17:40 |
| Alexandra Topping | Alexandra Topping |
| When Paula Lewis, a staff nurse in the NHS, heard about the Grenfell Tower fire, she went to Tesco and bought as many food supplies as she could. Struggling to the affected area with her bags, she flagged down a woman in a car who happened to be heading there with her own donations. | When Paula Lewis, a staff nurse in the NHS, heard about the Grenfell Tower fire, she went to Tesco and bought as many food supplies as she could. Struggling to the affected area with her bags, she flagged down a woman in a car who happened to be heading there with her own donations. |
| “The response has been amazing,” said Lewis, completely surrounded by thousands of bags and dozens of volunteers in the basement of the Methodist church on Lancaster Road. “There was nothing here at 9.30am. But, all day, it’s been non-stop: bedding, clothes, food. Human beings have just come together. It doesn’t matter what race, religion you are.” | “The response has been amazing,” said Lewis, completely surrounded by thousands of bags and dozens of volunteers in the basement of the Methodist church on Lancaster Road. “There was nothing here at 9.30am. But, all day, it’s been non-stop: bedding, clothes, food. Human beings have just come together. It doesn’t matter what race, religion you are.” |
| There was no sense of an overarching official responsibility at the church, or at St Clement’s, another local church that was being used as a makeshift reception centre. At the Methodist church, volunteers said they had not had official contact about organising supplies or people left homeless by the fire. And, by the end of the day, churches and halls were overflowing with donations. “We’re splitting essentials into bags and then volunteers are going to drive to try and give them to the people who need them,” she said. “The community response has just been amazing. [But] it is chaos. No one really knows what they are doing.” | There was no sense of an overarching official responsibility at the church, or at St Clement’s, another local church that was being used as a makeshift reception centre. At the Methodist church, volunteers said they had not had official contact about organising supplies or people left homeless by the fire. And, by the end of the day, churches and halls were overflowing with donations. “We’re splitting essentials into bags and then volunteers are going to drive to try and give them to the people who need them,” she said. “The community response has just been amazing. [But] it is chaos. No one really knows what they are doing.” |
| 5.18pm BST | 5.18pm BST |
| 17:18 | 17:18 |
| Denis Campbell | Denis Campbell |
| Forty casualties have been discharged from the six London hospitals treating them but 18 remain in critical care, the NHS has just announced. | Forty casualties have been discharged from the six London hospitals treating them but 18 remain in critical care, the NHS has just announced. |
| A total of 34 of the 74 people injured in the fire are still being cared for in hospital, and the number of those receiving critical care has fallen from 20 to 18, NHS England said in a brief update on the condition of those injured in the fire. | A total of 34 of the 74 people injured in the fire are still being cared for in hospital, and the number of those receiving critical care has fallen from 20 to 18, NHS England said in a brief update on the condition of those injured in the fire. |
| Dr Vinod Diwakar, the medical director of NHS England’s London region, who has been co-ordinating the medical response to last night’s tragedy, said: | Dr Vinod Diwakar, the medical director of NHS England’s London region, who has been co-ordinating the medical response to last night’s tragedy, said: |
| Across London, we are continuing to respond to the tragic incident at the Grenfell tower block in Kensington. We would like to thank staff across the NHS who have been pulling out all the stops in caring for the patients affected. The commitment, professionalism and outstanding care they have shown is something to be really proud of. | Across London, we are continuing to respond to the tragic incident at the Grenfell tower block in Kensington. We would like to thank staff across the NHS who have been pulling out all the stops in caring for the patients affected. The commitment, professionalism and outstanding care they have shown is something to be really proud of. |
| The hospitals receiving patients continue to be busier than normal and we encourage Londoners to use NHS services wisely and turn first of all to sources of advice such as NHS 111 and local pharmacies. | The hospitals receiving patients continue to be busier than normal and we encourage Londoners to use NHS services wisely and turn first of all to sources of advice such as NHS 111 and local pharmacies. |
| Of the 34 patients 11 are being treated at St Mary’s hospital, 10 at King’s College hospital, seven at the Chelsea and Westminster, five at the Royal Free and one at St Thomas’s. Charing Cross has discharged the four it was initially caring for. | Of the 34 patients 11 are being treated at St Mary’s hospital, 10 at King’s College hospital, seven at the Chelsea and Westminster, five at the Royal Free and one at St Thomas’s. Charing Cross has discharged the four it was initially caring for. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.31pm BST | at 5.31pm BST |
| 5.15pm BST | 5.15pm BST |
| 17:15 | 17:15 |
| Steve Apter, director of safety and assurance at London Fire Brigade, spoke before Cundy. | Steve Apter, director of safety and assurance at London Fire Brigade, spoke before Cundy. |
| He said firefighters have “searched almost all the building”. They have managed to get to the top floor. | He said firefighters have “searched almost all the building”. They have managed to get to the top floor. |
| They rescued 65 people who were handed over to London Ambulance Service. | They rescued 65 people who were handed over to London Ambulance Service. |
| There are still pockets of fire yet to be extinguished in particularly difficult areas to reach. | There are still pockets of fire yet to be extinguished in particularly difficult areas to reach. |
| He said firefighters would definitely be there overnight. | He said firefighters would definitely be there overnight. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.19pm BST | at 5.19pm BST |
| 5.14pm BST | 5.14pm BST |
| 17:14 | 17:14 |
| Met Commander Stuart Cundy said he expects the figure of 12 people dead to rise and they are not expecting to find any more survivors. | Met Commander Stuart Cundy said he expects the figure of 12 people dead to rise and they are not expecting to find any more survivors. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.19pm BST | at 5.19pm BST |
| 5.11pm BST | 5.11pm BST |
| 17:11 | 17:11 |
| Met commander Stuart Cundy, breaking the news that the death toll has doubled, said: | Met commander Stuart Cundy, breaking the news that the death toll has doubled, said: |
| It’s very, very challenging to put a number on those unaccounted for. | It’s very, very challenging to put a number on those unaccounted for. |
| 5.04pm BST | 5.04pm BST |
| 17:04 | 17:04 |
| 12 people have died | 12 people have died |
| The Met police say the death toll has risen to 12. | The Met police say the death toll has risen to 12. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.17pm BST | at 5.17pm BST |
| 4.59pm BST | 4.59pm BST |
| 16:59 | 16:59 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Ines Alves, 16, managed to reach her GCSE exam despite she and her family being burned out of their home on the 13th floor of Grenfell Tower, she told the Guardian. | Ines Alves, 16, managed to reach her GCSE exam despite she and her family being burned out of their home on the 13th floor of Grenfell Tower, she told the Guardian. |
| She escaped after her father, returning home late from work, noticed the fire just after it started. | She escaped after her father, returning home late from work, noticed the fire just after it started. |
| Ines and her father, Miguel, 49, were collecting supplies from Notting Hill Methodist Church on Wednesday afternoon. Despite losing everything, Ines said she still went to Sacred Heart school to complete her maths exam. “But I missed my history exam in the afternoon,” she said. | Ines and her father, Miguel, 49, were collecting supplies from Notting Hill Methodist Church on Wednesday afternoon. Despite losing everything, Ines said she still went to Sacred Heart school to complete her maths exam. “But I missed my history exam in the afternoon,” she said. |
| Miguel, a chauffeur, said he noticed the fire as he returned home from work early in the morning. | Miguel, a chauffeur, said he noticed the fire as he returned home from work early in the morning. |
| I just arrived when the fire started. I was in the lift, I pressed 13 and somebody pressed four. When the doors opened at the fourth floor, smoke billowed into the lift. | I just arrived when the fire started. I was in the lift, I pressed 13 and somebody pressed four. When the doors opened at the fourth floor, smoke billowed into the lift. |
| I just came out of the lift because I didn’t know what was going on, and I just went up by the staircase to wake up my son and daughter. | I just came out of the lift because I didn’t know what was going on, and I just went up by the staircase to wake up my son and daughter. |
| Ines said that firefighters at the bottom of the tower had told her mother, who got down earlier, to pass on a message that they should stay in their flat. | Ines said that firefighters at the bottom of the tower had told her mother, who got down earlier, to pass on a message that they should stay in their flat. |
| They told my mum to tell my dad, for us to stay up in our flat safely, just close the windows and all the doors. But she didn’t tell us in time so we ended up coming down anyway. Obviously they never knew it was going to get to this extent. | They told my mum to tell my dad, for us to stay up in our flat safely, just close the windows and all the doors. But she didn’t tell us in time so we ended up coming down anyway. Obviously they never knew it was going to get to this extent. |
| Miguel said that when they arrived back downstairs, the fire looked small. Ines continued: | Miguel said that when they arrived back downstairs, the fire looked small. Ines continued: |
| We were one of the first people. The fire started at about 12.55am, and we were out by ten past (one). | We were one of the first people. The fire started at about 12.55am, and we were out by ten past (one). |
| She said they went down the staircase to escape. | She said they went down the staircase to escape. |
| Like many, Miguel complained that residents had repeatedly warned the council that their block was not safe. “Many times we make a lot of points, and nobody cares; they ignore us,” he said. | Like many, Miguel complained that residents had repeatedly warned the council that their block was not safe. “Many times we make a lot of points, and nobody cares; they ignore us,” he said. |