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London Fire: ‘Number of Fatalities’ as Blaze Engulfs Apartment Tower London Fire: ‘Number of Fatalities’ as Blaze Engulfs Apartment Tower
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — More than 200 firefighters from all over London were struggling to contain a major fire at a high-rise apartment building in the west of the city on Wednesday morning, amid fears that people were trapped inside. An official said there had been “a number of fatalities.”LONDON — More than 200 firefighters from all over London were struggling to contain a major fire at a high-rise apartment building in the west of the city on Wednesday morning, amid fears that people were trapped inside. An official said there had been “a number of fatalities.”
According to the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police, the fire broke out around 1:16 a.m. and quickly engulfed the building, Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington, which appeared to have been gutted. According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire broke out shortly before 1 a.m. and quickly engulfed the building, Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington, which appeared to have been gutted. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
The London Fire Brigade said the flames had spread from the second floor to the top floor of the 27-story building, which contains some 120 apartments. More than 20 ambulances were sent to the scene. The police said that “residents continue to be evacuated.” The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The London Fire Brigade said the flames had spread from the second floor to the top floor of the 24-story building. Forty fire trucks were involved in fighting the blaze, and more than 20 ambulances were sent to the scene.
The commissioner of London’s fire brigade, Dany Cotton, said there had been “a number of fatalities.” But given “the size and complexity of this building,” she said, the exact count could not be confirmed. The commissioner of the fire brigade, Dany Cotton, said there had been “a number of fatalities.” But given “the size and complexity of this building,” she said, the exact count could not be confirmed.
“In my 29 years of being a firefighter, I have never, ever seen anything of this scale,” Ms. Cotton said.“In my 29 years of being a firefighter, I have never, ever seen anything of this scale,” Ms. Cotton said.
The London Ambulance Service said it had taken more than 50 patients to five hospitals.The London Ambulance Service said it had taken more than 50 patients to five hospitals.
At dawn, the blaze still burned brightly against the pale sky, with columns of thick black smoke ascending. Ashes filled the air, and small explosions could be heard as helicopters flew overhead. Firefighters on the ground trained hoses on the building. The police were extending their cordon around the building and pushing people back, apparently fearing that the building could collapse.At dawn, the blaze still burned brightly against the pale sky, with columns of thick black smoke ascending. Ashes filled the air, and small explosions could be heard as helicopters flew overhead. Firefighters on the ground trained hoses on the building. The police were extending their cordon around the building and pushing people back, apparently fearing that the building could collapse.
Abdul Kadiri, who stood with his family watching the fire, said he had heard sirens about 1:45 a.m.Abdul Kadiri, who stood with his family watching the fire, said he had heard sirens about 1:45 a.m.
“My friend lives with his family on the 15th floor of the building,” he said. “I called my friend, and he had no idea what was going on. I told him to grab his family and get out, and he hung up.”“My friend lives with his family on the 15th floor of the building,” he said. “I called my friend, and he had no idea what was going on. I told him to grab his family and get out, and he hung up.”
When the friend got out safely, Mr. Kadiri said, “he told me there was smoke everywhere, and he got out with the help of the firefighters who were on the fourth floor. He was a real mess and didn’t say much. He was just so happy to be out of there. He was crying thinking of all the children that would have been asleep on the higher floors and probably weren’t able to get out.” When the friend got out safely, Mr. Kadiri said, “he told me there was smoke everywhere, and he got out with the help of the firefighters who were on the fourth floor. He was a real mess and didn’t say much.
“He was just so happy to be out of there,” Mr. Kadri said. “He was crying thinking of all the children that would have been asleep on the higher floors and probably weren’t able to get out.”
Another resident, Hanan Wahabi, said she had spoken by phone to her brother, who was on the 21st floor, and urged him to leave. But he said firefighters had told him to stay in place until he could be rescued. Since then, she had been unable to reach him.
“I have done a lot of crying,” she said.
Meriam Antur was asleep on the 19th floor with her two children, her husband away, when she woke to the sound of sirens, followed by shouting in the corridors. “I panicked and called my husband while trying to put on my hijab so I could go and see what was happening,” she said. “I couldn’t get through, so I called my cousin, who told me to get out.”Meriam Antur was asleep on the 19th floor with her two children, her husband away, when she woke to the sound of sirens, followed by shouting in the corridors. “I panicked and called my husband while trying to put on my hijab so I could go and see what was happening,” she said. “I couldn’t get through, so I called my cousin, who told me to get out.”
When she opened her apartment door, Ms. Antur said, “my neighbors were running back and forth in the corridor shouting at each other. I didn’t understand until my friend came in and said we had to wait for the firemen and couldn’t go down.”When she opened her apartment door, Ms. Antur said, “my neighbors were running back and forth in the corridor shouting at each other. I didn’t understand until my friend came in and said we had to wait for the firemen and couldn’t go down.”
“I was so scared. It took so long, my children were crying, and I’m pregnant,” she said, clasping her belly. “I was so scared. I thought we were going to die.”“I was so scared. It took so long, my children were crying, and I’m pregnant,” she said, clasping her belly. “I was so scared. I thought we were going to die.”
Paramedics led Ms. Antur and her children away to be checked at a hospital. In the background, a woman ran barefoot down the street in her nightgown, screaming the name Elsa. Ms. Antur’s cousin said it was a neighbor who could not find her 6-year-old daughter.Paramedics led Ms. Antur and her children away to be checked at a hospital. In the background, a woman ran barefoot down the street in her nightgown, screaming the name Elsa. Ms. Antur’s cousin said it was a neighbor who could not find her 6-year-old daughter.
Adib Abbas was visiting his cousin on the ninth floor, preparing to have a meal before starting his daily fast for Ramadan, when he smelled gas and then heard people in the floors below shouting.Adib Abbas was visiting his cousin on the ninth floor, preparing to have a meal before starting his daily fast for Ramadan, when he smelled gas and then heard people in the floors below shouting.
“I opened the door, and everyone was shouting, ‘Fire, fire, get back in,’” he said. “My cousin had his kids with him, and they started crying and screaming when the smoke started coming in. There was no way out, we were stuck, and no one was coming to help us.”“I opened the door, and everyone was shouting, ‘Fire, fire, get back in,’” he said. “My cousin had his kids with him, and they started crying and screaming when the smoke started coming in. There was no way out, we were stuck, and no one was coming to help us.”
“I don’t know how long it took, but it felt like ages before we got out,” Mr. Abbas said. “I could see people lying on the floor as we were being pulled out. I think a lot of people died. It’s a nightmare.”“I don’t know how long it took, but it felt like ages before we got out,” Mr. Abbas said. “I could see people lying on the floor as we were being pulled out. I think a lot of people died. It’s a nightmare.”
Mohammed Bouya, who lives nearby, said he could hear people screaming for help from their windows. Firefighters told them to stay where they were, he said.
Mr. Bouya said he heard a friend talking by telephone to his sister, who lives on the 11th floor. “He put the police officer on to her on the phone, and he told her to put wet towels on her head until they can try to reach her,” he said, adding that later the man was unable to make contact with the sister.
Dan Daly, an assistant fire commissioner, 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.”
In the early hours of the fire, witnesses said they could see lights — thought to be flashlights — blinking at the top of the apartments.In the early hours of the fire, witnesses said they could see lights — thought to be flashlights — blinking at the top of the apartments.
George Clarke, an architect and television personality who said he was 100 yards away, told the BBC: “I’m getting covered in ash. That’s how bad it is.”George Clarke, an architect and television personality who said he was 100 yards away, told the BBC: “I’m getting covered in ash. That’s how bad it is.”
He continued: “It’s so heartbreaking. I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level, and they obviously can’t get out.”He continued: “It’s so heartbreaking. I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level, and they obviously can’t get out.”
Tim Downie, another witness, told the BBC that part of the building was “completely burned away.”Tim Downie, another witness, told the BBC that part of the building was “completely burned away.”
He said: “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.”He said: “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.”
A residents’ association, the Grenfell Action Group, has regularly complained in its newsletter of fire hazards in the building and what it called inattention by the landlord.A residents’ association, the Grenfell Action Group, has regularly complained in its newsletter of fire hazards in the building and what it called inattention by the landlord.
According to the Get West London website, the Grenfell Tower block completed a renovation costing 10 million pounds, or $12.8 million, in May 2016. The upgrade — which included the installation of insulated exterior cladding, double-glazed windows, and a new communal heating system — was financed by the local council as part of a multi-million-dollar improvement project in the area.According to the Get West London website, the Grenfell Tower block completed a renovation costing 10 million pounds, or $12.8 million, in May 2016. The upgrade — which included the installation of insulated exterior cladding, double-glazed windows, and a new communal heating system — was financed by the local council as part of a multi-million-dollar improvement project in the area.
According to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s website, the tower block was built in 1974 and contained 120 homes, managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization on behalf of the council.According to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s website, the tower block was built in 1974 and contained 120 homes, managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization on behalf of the council.