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Prayers for flats blaze victims | Prayers for flats blaze victims |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Six people killed in a fire at a tower block in south-east London two days ago have been remembered at several church services in the area. | Six people killed in a fire at a tower block in south-east London two days ago have been remembered at several church services in the area. |
Three women and three children were killed in the fire at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell on Friday. | Three women and three children were killed in the fire at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell on Friday. |
Officials are examining escape routes and fire prevention measures to find out how the fire spread so quickly. | Officials are examining escape routes and fire prevention measures to find out how the fire spread so quickly. |
One survivor has described fearing for his life as he sought shelter in a bathroom with five of the six victims. | |
"I thought there was no chance. I thought this was the end," Rasheed Nuhu told Channel 4 News. | |
Flowers and tributes to the victims have been left at the block of flats, as the community rallies round for those who escaped. | |
The local vicar, the Reverend Nick George, said the community was being "very supportive". | |
The moment I thought, 'We're not going to get out of this', was when the ladder could not reach where we were Rasheed Nuhu | |
"I even heard that at a local church somebody put an envelope through the letterbox at the local vicarage with £100 in it saying this is for the people of Lakanal House." | "I even heard that at a local church somebody put an envelope through the letterbox at the local vicarage with £100 in it saying this is for the people of Lakanal House." |
He said people had also been inquiring about how they could donate clothes and other items. | He said people had also been inquiring about how they could donate clothes and other items. |
A condolence book has also been put out at Southwark town hall and the borough's flag is flying at half-mast. | A condolence book has also been put out at Southwark town hall and the borough's flag is flying at half-mast. |
Mr Nuhu said his family had given refuge to blaze victims Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle. | |
When his 11th floor flat filled with smoke, they moved into the bathroom of his next door neighbour Dayana Francisquini. | |
However he left to seek help when he realised the ferocity of the blaze. | |
"I looked to my left and saw this massive fireball... the type of scene when there's a plane crash and at this point I just thought we are in a precarious situation and we have to plan a getaway," he said. | |
Mr Nuhu, his wife and two children were then filmed by onlookers as they escaped on to a balcony on the floor above, where they were later rescued by firefighters. | |
Ms Francisquini, who had decided to stay in the bathroom, died along with her three-year-old son Filipe. | |
'Extremely traumatising' | |
Her six-year-old daughter - named in media reports as Thais - is also believed to have died, although police have not made any formal identification. | |
Another 11th floor resident in the block on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, Catherine Hickman, 31, also died. The fire is believed to have spread from a flat two floors below. | |
Mr Nuhu said he was haunted by the fact he had survived when others died, adding: "It's extremely traumatising, and I'm still trying to come to terms with that. | |
Mr Nuhu said he waited 90 minutes to be recued, with firefighters unable to get a ladder to the balcony. | |
Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the fire | |
"The moment I thought, 'We're not going to get out of this', was when the ladder could not reach where we were. That's when I thought there was no chance. | |
"I thought this was the end." | |
Ms Francisquini's husband, Rafael Cervi, a 34-year-old hotel porter, told the Sunday Telegraph he spoke to his wife by phone as she sheltered in the bathroom. | |
He said the last words he heard from his wife were: "I can't breathe very well. I'm struggling to breathe and Filipe's really scared." | |
Thirty people were rescued from the building and 15 were taken to hospital, including three of those who died. | Thirty people were rescued from the building and 15 were taken to hospital, including three of those who died. |
Fire officers said that while the building design was common, the rapid way the fire had spread was unusual. | Fire officers said that while the building design was common, the rapid way the fire had spread was unusual. |
London Fire Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost". | London Fire Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost". |
Councillor Nick Stanton, leader of Southwark Council, said: "This block is not untypical and met all the fire safety requirements laid down at the time of its construction. | Councillor Nick Stanton, leader of Southwark Council, said: "This block is not untypical and met all the fire safety requirements laid down at the time of its construction. |
He said the council had spent around £3.5m upgrading the block in recent years, including carrying out a safety survey and fitting fire resistant doors. | |
The investigation into the cause of the fire continues. | The investigation into the cause of the fire continues. |
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Experts at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell | Experts at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell |