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Aldgate fire: Large blaze at high-rise London tower block | Aldgate fire: Large blaze at high-rise London tower block |
(32 minutes later) | |
The fire is on the 17th floor of the block of flats and offices | The fire is on the 17th floor of the block of flats and offices |
A large fire has started in a high-rise block of flats and offices in east London, with footage showing burning debris falling to the ground. | |
More than 125 firefighters are at the tower on Whitechapel High Street, in Aldgate East, with London Fire Brigade (LFB) asking people to avoid the area. | |
Large flames could be seen fanning out of the 17th floor of the building. | |
One eyewitness tweeted: "Huge fire in #aldgate huge glass panels falling 100s of metres to the ground, awful scenes." | One eyewitness tweeted: "Huge fire in #aldgate huge glass panels falling 100s of metres to the ground, awful scenes." |
We're dealing with this fire on #WhiteChapel High Street. Ten fire engines & 70 firefighters are at the scene. Please avoid the area if possible. https://t.co/KM59RSlaK4 | |
Some 20 fire engines are at the scene and firefighters are using a ladder, which can reach 64m (210ft). | |
The Metropolitan Police said the building was being evacuated. | The Metropolitan Police said the building was being evacuated. |
London Ambulance Service has advised people to keep their windows closed and stay indoors. | London Ambulance Service has advised people to keep their windows closed and stay indoors. |
Whitechapel High Street is closed between Commercial Road and Old Castle Street. Commercial Road is also shut. | |
The fire service said the cause of the blaze was not yet known. | The fire service said the cause of the blaze was not yet known. |
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was in close contact with Fire Commissioner Andy Roe. | |
At the scene | |
BBC Radio London's Helen Hoddinott | |
As soon as I got out of the Tube, the doors opened and you could smell the thick smoke in the air. | |
Seventeen floors up, the smoke is billowing out of a gap in the building. Four floors above that, the building is charred with smoke. | |
There's a huge presence from the emergency services here. | |
The London Fire Brigade has brought their biggest crane of 64 metres. There are two firefighters making very slow progress towards the fire. | |
People are being told to avoid the area, but there are big crowds gathering to look up at the smoke. | |
Police have been evacuating the building | |
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