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| London Fire: Several Grenfell Tower residents dead as blaze rips through 27-storey apartment block | London Fire: Several Grenfell Tower residents dead as blaze rips through 27-storey apartment block |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A number of people have been killed in a huge fire at a 27-storey tower block in west London, the fire service has announced. | A number of people have been killed in a huge fire at a 27-storey tower block in west London, the fire service has announced. |
| More than 50 people are being treated in five hospitals across the capital, London Ambulance Service said, as 200 firefighters battle the flames that have engulfed Grenfell Tower in Kensington. | |
| The Metropolitan Police tweeted: "An emergency number has been set up for anyone concerned for loved ones in #NorthKensington fire please call Casualty Bureau 0800 0961 233". | |
| London Fire Brigade (LFB) commissioner Dany Cotton said the fire was an "unprecedented situation" and confirmed "a number of fatalities". | |
| She could not confirm the exact number due to the size and complexity of the building, she added. | |
| She told reporters at the scene: "In my 29 years of being a firefighter, I have never ever seen anything of this scale." | |
| The cause is so far unknown. | |
| Refurbishment had recently been carried out with new cladding on the outside of the 1970s-era structure and work on the gas supply to the flats. It cost £8.7 million, and was completed in May last year. | |
| A residents' action group said their warnings about safety had fallen on "deaf ears". | |
| It said there was only one entry and exit to the tower during improvement works at the block in Latimer Road and it had issues with evacuation procedures. | |
| After the fire, the group posted: "All our warnings fell on deaf ears and we predicted that a catastrophe like this was inevitable and just a matter of time." | |
| Commander Stuart Cundy, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "I can confirm there have been a number of fatalities and others receiving medical care. We will be soon making contact with next of kin. | |
| "Anyone who is concerned about loved ones in relation to the fire should contact [the] casualty bureau which has been opened following the fire. If you do not get through immediately please do try again. | |
| "Extensive cordons remain in place and a number of nearby residents have been evacuated as a precaution. The A40 is closed in both directions. We kindly ask that the public stay away from the area." | |
| Additional reporting by agencies |