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Aldgate fire: Large blaze at high-rise London tower block Aldgate fire: Large blaze at high-rise London tower block
(about 1 hour later)
The fire is on the 17th floor of the block of flats and offices This video can not be played
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. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
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. Debris falls from burning tower block
Large flames could be seen fanning out of the 17th floor of the building. About 60 people were evacuated from a tower block in east London after a large fire broke out.
One eyewitness tweeted: "Huge fire in #aldgate huge glass panels falling 100s of metres to the ground, awful scenes." More than 125 firefighters tackled the blaze at the high-rise block of flats and offices on Whitechapel High Street, in Aldgate East, on Monday afternoon.
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 Large flames could be seen fanning out of the 17th floor of the building and footage showed burning debris had fallen to the ground.
Some 20 fire engines are at the scene and firefighters are using a ladder, which can reach 64m (210ft). A 64m (210ft) ladder - Europe's largest - was used.
The Metropolitan Police said the building was being evacuated. There have not been any reports of injuries. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said a woman had to be given "fire survival advice" until firefighters got to her as she was trapped on the 17th floor.
London Ambulance Service has advised people to keep their windows closed and stay indoors. Station commander Chris Jenner, who was at the scene, said: "Fire crews used a fire escape hood to help lead the woman to safety via the internal staircase."
'Very scary' A fire escape hood offers up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein). They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier, LFB said.
The fire was on the 17th floor of the block of flats and offices
London Ambulance Service said one patient was taken to hospital while others were checked over at the scene.
The blaze also affected balconies on the 18th and 19th floors.
It was put out by about 19:00 GMT, LFB confirmed.
Lynn Ling, 25, lives on the 20th floor of the tower block with her husband Yuri.Lynn Ling, 25, lives on the 20th floor of the tower block with her husband Yuri.
Ms Ling said: "I did not hear an alarm. I think there was a fire alarm on the ground floor but I could not hear it clearly on the 20th.Ms Ling said: "I did not hear an alarm. I think there was a fire alarm on the ground floor but I could not hear it clearly on the 20th.
"I went out of my door but I found there was smoke in the corridor so I went downstairs. I forgot to take my coat. It was very scary.""I went out of my door but I found there was smoke in the corridor so I went downstairs. I forgot to take my coat. It was very scary."
Police have been evacuating the building 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 roads in the area are closed, with Whitechapel High Street shut between Commercial Road and Old Castle Street. Commercial Road is also closed.
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 regarding updates and suggested Londoners "follow @LondonFire for updates". Mr Jennar said: "We mobilised a 64 metre turntable ladder to the scene. This is the tallest firefighting ladder in Europe and allowed us to get water on to the fire from outside the building.
"The professionalism, hard work and quick actions of control officers and firefighters limited the damage to the block and prevented serious injuries."
The building is a 22-storey mixed use development of commercial office space and 207 residential apartments, according to property developer Hondo Enterprises, which sold the building in 2018.The building is a 22-storey mixed use development of commercial office space and 207 residential apartments, according to property developer Hondo Enterprises, which sold the building in 2018.
It is located over Aldgate East Tube Station between the City - the financial heart of London - and neighbourhoods Aldgate and Spitalfields.It is located over Aldgate East Tube Station between the City - the financial heart of London - and neighbourhoods Aldgate and Spitalfields.
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.
London Ambulance advised residents nearby to close windowsLondon Ambulance advised residents nearby to close windows
More than 125 firefighters were sent to the blazeMore than 125 firefighters were sent to the blaze
Smoke could be seen for miles aroundSmoke could be seen for miles around
The building is close to Aldgate East Tube stationThe building is close to Aldgate East Tube station
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