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| Version 45 | Version 46 |
|---|---|
| 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) | |
| 8.04am BST | |
| 08:04 | |
| Alice Ross | |
| Even when the charred shell of Grenfell Tower is out of sight, there is still a lingering burned, chemical smell that’s detectable from Ladbroke Grove and beyond. | |
| A thin cloud of smoke - or possibly dust and fine ash - is emerging from the | |
| Locals making their way to work through the Lancaster West estate must navigate around a warren of police cordons and make their way past television crews, and homemade signs directing those affected to emergency accommodation, offering free food or support with banking. | |
| Street sweepers are clearing away discarded water bottles and food containers from the thousands of donations, interspersed with chunks of black ash from the tower. | |
| 7.56am BST | |
| 07:56 | |
| Labour demands special Commons session | |
| Matthew Weaver | |
| Labour is demanding a special Commons session to quiz a senior minister about what the government plan to do in the wake of the fire and ask why it failed to act on coroners’ concerns about two previous tower block fires. | |
| Shadow housing minister John Healey said: “We are demanding now a minister comes to the House of Commons for a special statement session.” | |
| Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain he added: “Overnight we have asked the government: get a minister into parliament today let parliament recognise how serious this tragedy is. It is the sort of thing that allows us to pay respect to the victims, but importantly it helps provide some of the answers that people are asking about what went off, what’s being done and most importantly what’s not being done to learn the lessons and act after the last tragedies that we saw now nearly eight years ago.” | |
| Healey also called for an immediate fire safety review of tower blocks. He said: “What it really needs now is for a very senior cabinet minister to show they are getting a grip of this and reassuring tenants in other tower blocks that they will get to the bottom of the problems. They should commission and independent immediate review so that of the clear lessons must now be taken seriously.” | |
| Healey said the work of government should not be delayed by government negotiations with the DUP on securing a working majority. “One of our problems is our parliament is paralysed by the paralysis is Downing Street, because nothing can be down in Parliament till after the Queen’s speech and we still don’t have a debate,” he said. | |
| He accused ministers of rejecting or ignoring key recommendations of coroners’ reports into tower block fires in South London and Southampton. He said: | |
| The coroner after that [2009] Lakanal fire in 2013 and the coroner who did the same sort of inquiry into a fire in tower block in Southampton reporting at the same time, did a rule 33 letter. This is where coroners take the unusual step of recommending to government things that can be done to prevent future fire deaths. Two of the recommendations were simply rejected: that’s information on site about complex blocks like this for firefighters and also encouraging the wider use of sprinkler systems in similar high rise block. The final important recommendation about reviewing the building regulations should be reviewed. That was four years ago and that has simply been neglected. So there are some serious questions to answer now ... | |
| The recommendation to encourage the wider use of sprinklers in such blocks was rejected by the housing minister in front of a select committee. The important recommendation to review the building regulations specifically looking at questions of cladding and potentially compromising the fire safety of the building itself, drawn attention by the coroners at that time, is simply being put to one side. So there are some very serious questions for ministers to answer now, that residents are asking at Grenfell Tower, and very important reassurance to give to many many people who live in similar tower blocks through out the country. | |
| Four years on from two coroners reports we are still waiting for even a plan to review building regulations that government said they would. | |
| 7.16am BST | 7.16am BST |
| 07:16 | 07:16 |
| No sign of the fire still burning in Grenfell Tower, but you can see the aerial platform being used by firecrews inspecting the damage @LBC pic.twitter.com/deO26Dkl7S | No sign of the fire still burning in Grenfell Tower, but you can see the aerial platform being used by firecrews inspecting the damage @LBC pic.twitter.com/deO26Dkl7S |
| 7.13am BST | 7.13am BST |
| 07:13 | 07:13 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Hello, if you have just joined us, here is an update. | Hello, if you have just joined us, here is an update. |
| At least 12 people have died after a huge fire engulfed a tower block in west London at about 1am on Wednesday. Police have said the death toll is likely to rise. | At least 12 people have died after a huge fire engulfed a tower block in west London at about 1am on Wednesday. Police have said the death toll is likely to rise. |
| A huge relief effort has swung into action, with charity workers and volunteers providing aid for those affected. Residents have voiced their anger at a lack of coordination from the council or other authorities. More than £1m to help displaced residents has been raised via online donations in just over 24 hours. | A huge relief effort has swung into action, with charity workers and volunteers providing aid for those affected. Residents have voiced their anger at a lack of coordination from the council or other authorities. More than £1m to help displaced residents has been raised via online donations in just over 24 hours. |
| NHS England said 34 people remain in hospital, including 18 who are in critical care. Initially, 74 patients were treated in six hospitals across London. | NHS England said 34 people remain in hospital, including 18 who are in critical care. Initially, 74 patients were treated in six hospitals across London. |
| Pockets of fire were still burning in the 24-storey block on Wednesday evening and firefighters remained on the scene overnight. | Pockets of fire were still burning in the 24-storey block on Wednesday evening and firefighters remained on the scene overnight. |
| Worried family and friends appealed via social media for help to find the missing. Several hundred people would have been asleep in the block when the fire took hold. | Worried family and friends appealed via social media for help to find the missing. Several hundred people would have been asleep in the block when the fire took hold. |
| Experts said the fire spread at unusual speed and raised concerns whether the cladding may have contributed to this. The tower, which was built in 1974, recently underwent a major refurbishment. | Experts said the fire spread at unusual speed and raised concerns whether the cladding may have contributed to this. The tower, which was built in 1974, recently underwent a major refurbishment. |
| It emerged the cladding used in Grenfell Tower was behind a rapidly spreading blaze at a tower block in Melbourne in 2014. An eighth-floor fire raced up 13 floors to the roof of the 21-storey building in 11 minutes. The spread was “directly associated” with the external cladding, said the fire brigade. | It emerged the cladding used in Grenfell Tower was behind a rapidly spreading blaze at a tower block in Melbourne in 2014. An eighth-floor fire raced up 13 floors to the roof of the 21-storey building in 11 minutes. The spread was “directly associated” with the external cladding, said the fire brigade. |
| The Grenfell Action Group, a residents’ association, repeatedly warned about the risk of fire and claimed a major blaze was narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013. The group said its concerns were dismissed. | The Grenfell Action Group, a residents’ association, repeatedly warned about the risk of fire and claimed a major blaze was narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013. The group said its concerns were dismissed. |
| The Circle and Hammersmith and City Tube lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road have now reopened, as has the A40 Westway. However, there are bus diversions still in place. Check here for the latest transport updates. | The Circle and Hammersmith and City Tube lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road have now reopened, as has the A40 Westway. However, there are bus diversions still in place. Check here for the latest transport updates. |
| Witnesses described screams of terror and people jumping in an attempt to reach safety. | Witnesses described screams of terror and people jumping in an attempt to reach safety. |
| A baby was caught by a member of the public after being dropped from the ninth or 10th floor, a witness said. | A baby was caught by a member of the public after being dropped from the ninth or 10th floor, a witness said. |
| More than 200 firefighters tackled the blaze at its peak with more than 40 engines. Sixty-five people were rescued. | More than 200 firefighters tackled the blaze at its peak with more than 40 engines. Sixty-five people were rescued. |
| 6.50am BST | 6.50am BST |
| 06:50 | 06:50 |
| More than £1m has been raised in just over 24 hours for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower, Press Association reports. | More than £1m has been raised in just over 24 hours for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower, Press Association reports. |
| An appeal on JustGiving launched by Karolina Hanusova raised £286,437 while another set up by Haley Yearwood has generated £431,910. The Evening Standard launched an appeal on a dedicated website, dispossessedfund.org.uk, raising £282,939 as of 6am. | An appeal on JustGiving launched by Karolina Hanusova raised £286,437 while another set up by Haley Yearwood has generated £431,910. The Evening Standard launched an appeal on a dedicated website, dispossessedfund.org.uk, raising £282,939 as of 6am. |
| In addition to PA’s tally, there is a council fund, the Grenfell Tower Appeal, which has raised £198, 571. | In addition to PA’s tally, there is a council fund, the Grenfell Tower Appeal, which has raised £198, 571. |
| 6.28am BST | 6.28am BST |
| 06:28 | 06:28 |
| 6.18am BST | 6.18am BST |
| 06:18 | 06:18 |
| A photographer who took the photo of the burning block that appears on the front of the Evening Standard has said it was one of the most traumatic events he had ever witnessed. Jeremy Selwyn has previously covered the war in Bosnia, the Troubles and the Lockerbie bombing. | A photographer who took the photo of the burning block that appears on the front of the Evening Standard has said it was one of the most traumatic events he had ever witnessed. Jeremy Selwyn has previously covered the war in Bosnia, the Troubles and the Lockerbie bombing. |
| “It was a scene of total devastation,” he said. “It just got worse in front of my eyes. I felt useless as you could hear screams from people inside the building. After about an hour it all went quiet. When it all went quiet was the worst part for me.” | “It was a scene of total devastation,” he said. “It just got worse in front of my eyes. I felt useless as you could hear screams from people inside the building. After about an hour it all went quiet. When it all went quiet was the worst part for me.” |
| 5.56am BST | 5.56am BST |
| 05:56 | 05:56 |
| The local council has no more space to accept donations, but there is a Grenfell Tower appeal that is taking financial donations (and has already raised £194,000) | The local council has no more space to accept donations, but there is a Grenfell Tower appeal that is taking financial donations (and has already raised £194,000) |
| Thanks for the donations of clothes, food etc. Our partners have been inundated with generous offers and have no more space at present. | Thanks for the donations of clothes, food etc. Our partners have been inundated with generous offers and have no more space at present. |
| 5.47am BST | 5.47am BST |
| 05:47 | 05:47 |
| Summary | Summary |
| If you are just joining us, here is the latest: | If you are just joining us, here is the latest: |
| At least 12 people have died after a huge fire engulfed a tower block in west London at about 1am on Wednesday. Police have said the death toll is likely to rise. | At least 12 people have died after a huge fire engulfed a tower block in west London at about 1am on Wednesday. Police have said the death toll is likely to rise. |
| A huge relief effort has swung into action, with charity workers and volunteers providing aid for those affected. Residents have voiced their anger at a lack of coordination from the council or other authorities. | A huge relief effort has swung into action, with charity workers and volunteers providing aid for those affected. Residents have voiced their anger at a lack of coordination from the council or other authorities. |
| NHS England said 34 people remain in hospital, including 18 who are in critical care. Initially, 74 patients were treated in six hospitals across London. | NHS England said 34 people remain in hospital, including 18 who are in critical care. Initially, 74 patients were treated in six hospitals across London. |
| Pockets of fire were still burning in the 24-storey block on Wednesday evening and firefighters remained on the scene overnight. | Pockets of fire were still burning in the 24-storey block on Wednesday evening and firefighters remained on the scene overnight. |
| Worried family and friends appealed via social media for help to find the missing. Several hundred people would have been asleep in the block when the fire took hold. | Worried family and friends appealed via social media for help to find the missing. Several hundred people would have been asleep in the block when the fire took hold. |
| Experts said the fire spread at unusual speed and raised concerns whether the cladding may have contributed to this. The tower, which was built in 1974, recently underwent a major refurbishment. | Experts said the fire spread at unusual speed and raised concerns whether the cladding may have contributed to this. The tower, which was built in 1974, recently underwent a major refurbishment. |
| It emerged the cladding used in Grenfell Tower was behind a rapidly spreading blaze at a tower block in Melbourne in 2014. An eighth-floor fire raced up 13 floors to the roof of the 21-storey building in 11 minutes. The spread was “directly associated” with the external cladding, said the fire brigade. | It emerged the cladding used in Grenfell Tower was behind a rapidly spreading blaze at a tower block in Melbourne in 2014. An eighth-floor fire raced up 13 floors to the roof of the 21-storey building in 11 minutes. The spread was “directly associated” with the external cladding, said the fire brigade. |
| The Grenfell Action Group, a residents’ association, repeatedly warned about the risk of fire and claimed a major blaze was narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013. The group said its concerns were dismissed. | The Grenfell Action Group, a residents’ association, repeatedly warned about the risk of fire and claimed a major blaze was narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013. The group said its concerns were dismissed. |
| The Circle and Hammersmith and City Tube lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road have now reopened, as has the A40 Westway. However, there are bus diversions still in place. Check here for the latest transport updates. | The Circle and Hammersmith and City Tube lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road have now reopened, as has the A40 Westway. However, there are bus diversions still in place. Check here for the latest transport updates. |
| Witnesses described screams of terror and people jumping in an attempt to reach safety. | Witnesses described screams of terror and people jumping in an attempt to reach safety. |
| A baby was caught by a member of the public after being dropped from the ninth or 10th floor, a witness said. | A baby was caught by a member of the public after being dropped from the ninth or 10th floor, a witness said. |
| More than 200 firefighters tackled the blaze at its peak with more than 40 engines. Sixty-five people were rescued. | More than 200 firefighters tackled the blaze at its peak with more than 40 engines. Sixty-five people were rescued. |
| 4.39am BST | 4.39am BST |
| 04:39 | 04:39 |
| People gathered on Thursday night for a vigil held outside Notting Hill Methodist church the Evening Standard has reported. Reverend Mike Long invited people to light candles before playing Amazing Grace on his flute as the crowd sang along. | People gathered on Thursday night for a vigil held outside Notting Hill Methodist church the Evening Standard has reported. Reverend Mike Long invited people to light candles before playing Amazing Grace on his flute as the crowd sang along. |
| He is reported as saying: | He is reported as saying: |
| There are times when all the words we can say are not adequate and sometimes words fail us because no words can do justice to how we feel, or what we have seen or what has happened. Today is one of those days. | There are times when all the words we can say are not adequate and sometimes words fail us because no words can do justice to how we feel, or what we have seen or what has happened. Today is one of those days. |
| “What we can simply do is look to all that we have seen today which is good, which is fabulous – people getting together. | “What we can simply do is look to all that we have seen today which is good, which is fabulous – people getting together. |
| “Let light triumph over all that is rotten, that is desperate and that defies our understanding.” | “Let light triumph over all that is rotten, that is desperate and that defies our understanding.” |
| 4.19am BST | 4.19am BST |
| 04:19 | 04:19 |
| Adele has been spotted mingling with the crowd at late-night vigils near Grenfell Tower. | Adele has been spotted mingling with the crowd at late-night vigils near Grenfell Tower. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.22am BST | at 4.22am BST |
| 3.56am BST | 3.56am BST |
| 03:56 | 03:56 |
| 3.54am BST | 3.54am BST |
| 03:54 | 03:54 |
| 3.52am BST | 3.52am BST |
| 03:52 | 03:52 |
| 3.49am BST | 3.49am BST |
| 03:49 | 03:49 |
| 3.24am BST | 3.24am BST |
| 03:24 | 03:24 |
| Here is the full read on the problems previously linked to the cladding used in Grenfell Tower. It is worth noting that the cladding has not yet been established by authorities as the cause of the swift spread of the fire but it is likely to be the focus of the investigation. | Here is the full read on the problems previously linked to the cladding used in Grenfell Tower. It is worth noting that the cladding has not yet been established by authorities as the cause of the swift spread of the fire but it is likely to be the focus of the investigation. |