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| London fire: Huge blaze engulfsthe 27-storey Grenfell Tower apartment block in North Kensington | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge fire has broken out at a tower block in Latimer Road in west London, with eyewitnesses reporting that they can see residents trapped at the top of the building. | A huge fire has broken out at a tower block in Latimer Road in west London, with eyewitnesses reporting that they can see residents trapped at the top of the building. |
| London Fire Brigade confirmed that more than 200 fire fighters are tackling the blaze at Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate, with 40 fire engines sent to the location. | London Fire Brigade confirmed that more than 200 fire fighters are tackling the blaze at Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate, with 40 fire engines sent to the location. |
| The blaze was first reported at 1:16am, with the Met Police confirming that people are being treated for a “range of injuries”. | The blaze was first reported at 1:16am, with the Met Police confirming that people are being treated for a “range of injuries”. |
| However, eyewitnesses have reported that people are still trapped at the top of the building which is believed to have broken out on the second floor and engulfed up to 25 floors above it. Small lights that look like torches have been seen by those on the ground, with individuals claiming the building is “close to burning through”. | However, eyewitnesses have reported that people are still trapped at the top of the building which is believed to have broken out on the second floor and engulfed up to 25 floors above it. Small lights that look like torches have been seen by those on the ground, with individuals claiming the building is “close to burning through”. |
| An police update issued around 4:00am said: “Residents continue to be evacuated.” | |
| Sadiq Khan has issued a statement, calling it a '"major incident" that is being tackled by 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters. | Sadiq Khan has issued a statement, calling it a '"major incident" that is being tackled by 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters. |
| Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have taken footage of the blaze as the sun rises, revealing the horrifying extent of the ongoing fire damage. | Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have taken footage of the blaze as the sun rises, revealing the horrifying extent of the ongoing fire damage. |
| Pictures from the scene showed flames engulfing the block and the plume of smoke visible across the capital, while others showed residents looking out of windows in the block. | Pictures from the scene showed flames engulfing the block and the plume of smoke visible across the capital, while others showed residents looking out of windows in the block. |
| The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Nick Paget-Brown said “several hundred” people would have been in the block when the fire broke out. | The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Nick Paget-Brown said “several hundred” people would have been in the block when the fire broke out. |
| Actor and writer Tim Downie, who lives around 600 metres from the scene in Latimer Road, told the Press Association he feared the block could collapse. | Actor and writer Tim Downie, who lives around 600 metres from the scene in Latimer Road, told the Press Association he feared the block could collapse. |
| He said: “It's horrendous. The whole building is engulfed in flames. It's gone. It's just a matter of time before this building collapses. | He said: “It's horrendous. The whole building is engulfed in flames. It's gone. It's just a matter of time before this building collapses. |
| “It's the most terrifying thing I've ever seen. I just hope they have got everyone out. | “It's the most terrifying thing I've ever seen. I just hope they have got everyone out. |
| “The first I knew was the noise of sirens, helicopters and shouting. I saw it engulfed in flames. | “The first I knew was the noise of sirens, helicopters and shouting. I saw it engulfed in flames. |
| “People have been bringing water, clothes, anything they've got to help, out to the cordon. | “People have been bringing water, clothes, anything they've got to help, out to the cordon. |
| “I have seen people coming out in their bedclothes - it's just very distressing.” | “I have seen people coming out in their bedclothes - it's just very distressing.” |
| Jody Martin said he got to the scene just as the first fire engine was arriving at Grenfell Tower, in Latimer Road. | Jody Martin said he got to the scene just as the first fire engine was arriving at Grenfell Tower, in Latimer Road. |
| He told the BBC: “I grabbed an axe from the fire truck, it looked like there was a bit of confusion about what to do. | He told the BBC: “I grabbed an axe from the fire truck, it looked like there was a bit of confusion about what to do. |
| “I ran around the building looking for a fire escape and couldn't see any noticeable fire escapes around the building. A lot of debris falling down. | “I ran around the building looking for a fire escape and couldn't see any noticeable fire escapes around the building. A lot of debris falling down. |
| “I eventually gained entry on to the second floor, and once I got to the corridor I realised there was so much smoke there.” | “I eventually gained entry on to the second floor, and once I got to the corridor I realised there was so much smoke there.” |
| He added that given the thickness of the smoke, he would be surprised if anyone could have left the building without assistance. | He added that given the thickness of the smoke, he would be surprised if anyone could have left the building without assistance. |
| “I watched one person falling out, I watched another woman holding her baby out the window... hearing screams, I was yelling everyone to get down and they were saying 'We can't leave our apartments, the smoke is too bad on the corridors',” he said. | “I watched one person falling out, I watched another woman holding her baby out the window... hearing screams, I was yelling everyone to get down and they were saying 'We can't leave our apartments, the smoke is too bad on the corridors',” he said. |
| Nick Paget-Brown described the blaze as a “very, very severe fire”. | Nick Paget-Brown described the blaze as a “very, very severe fire”. |
| He told Sky News: “Clearly it's an absolutely devastating fire. | He told Sky News: “Clearly it's an absolutely devastating fire. |
| “Several hundred would have been in there. It's a question of establishing how many people were in there at the time of the fire. | “Several hundred would have been in there. It's a question of establishing how many people were in there at the time of the fire. |
| “I'm really not in any position to answer any questions about the structure. | “I'm really not in any position to answer any questions about the structure. |
| “Clearly there's a lot more work to do to evacuate the building and to establish how safe it is.” | “Clearly there's a lot more work to do to evacuate the building and to establish how safe it is.” |
| Fire crews from north Kensington, Kensington, Hammersmith and Paddington and surrounding stations were at the scene with the fire burning from the second to the top floor. | Fire crews from north Kensington, Kensington, Hammersmith and Paddington and surrounding stations were at the scene with the fire burning from the second to the top floor. |
| The cause of the fire was not known at this stage, London Fire Brigade said. | The cause of the fire was not known at this stage, London Fire Brigade said. |
| Fabio Bebber wrote on Twitter: “More screams for help as the fire spreads to another side of the building. | Fabio Bebber wrote on Twitter: “More screams for help as the fire spreads to another side of the building. |
| “We can see how quick the fire spreads via the external panels. It's unbearable hearing someone screaming for their lives at #grenfelltower.” | “We can see how quick the fire spreads via the external panels. It's unbearable hearing someone screaming for their lives at #grenfelltower.” |
| George Clarke, who presents the Channel 4 TV 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'. | George Clarke, who presents the Channel 4 TV 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 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. | “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. | “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.” | “The guys are doing an incredible job to try and get people out that building, but it's truly awful.” |
| London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Dan Daly said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire. | London Fire Brigade 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.” | “This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances.” |
| London Ambulance said it had sent a “number of resources” to the scene, including its Hazardous Area Response Team. | London Ambulance said it had sent a “number of resources” to the scene, including its Hazardous Area Response Team. |
| Former chancellor and now editor of the Evening Standard George Osborne tweeted: “Just seen this awful tower block fire near my home in W London. My prayers with those affected & heroes tackling it.” | Former chancellor and now editor of the Evening Standard George Osborne tweeted: “Just seen this awful tower block fire near my home in W London. My prayers with those affected & heroes tackling it.” |
| Transport for London said there was no service between Hammersmith and Edgware Road on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, while the police said the A40 was closed in both directions, owing to the fire. | Transport for London said there was no service between Hammersmith and Edgware Road on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, while the police said the A40 was closed in both directions, owing to the fire. |