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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.
The local vicar, the Reverend Nick George, said the community was being "very supportive".
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.
Revd George said: "It [Camberwell] really is a great place, and people are being very supportive. One survivor has described fearing for his life as he sought shelter in a bathroom with five of the six victims.
Donations offered "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.
On Saturday police said Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle were among the victims who died in the fire, which broke out at 1620 BST on Friday.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the fire
They said Dayana Francisquini, 26, was also killed, along with her son Filipe Francisquini, three.
Catherine Hickman, 31, also died in the fire.
Dayana Francisquini's husband, Rafael Cervi, a 34-year-old hotel porter, was at work when he heard the building was on fire.
He told the Sunday Telegraph that the last words he heard from his wife were in a phone call during the blaze when she told him: "I can't breathe very well. I'm struggling to breathe and Filipe's really scared."
Mr Cervi told the newspaper: "They were what I lived for. Now everything is gone and I have nothing."
He said Ms Francisquini had locked herself and her two children in their bathroom in an attempt to survive.
The victims were all found on the 11th floor of the flat, on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, but the fire is believed to have begun in a flat on the ninth floor.
Rapid spread
The sixth victim, who has not been formally identified, is believed to be Ms Francisquini's four-year-old daughter, named in media reports as Thais.
A firefighter remains in hospital, where he is being treated for minor injuries, after smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
Three-week-old Michelle Udoaka was the youngest victim of the fire
Flowers and tributes have been left at the block of flats for the victims.
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".
'Adequate prevention'
Harriet Harman, the area's MP, said there would "have to be a thorough investigation into what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate".
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.
Catherine Hickman was among the six victims 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.
"In the past two years the council has spent around £3.5m on this particular block to bring it up to Decent Homes standards, set out by the government.
"As well as new bathrooms, windows and kitchens, this includes safety work such as new fire resistant doors on all front doors and kitchen doors, an overall safety survey of the building, and the checking of all external and communal wiring."
He said the council was contacting all other London boroughs to find out how many blocks they may have that are similar to Lakanal House and said it it would share all relevant findings of the investigation with them.
Mr Stanton added that community wardens and housing officers had begun visiting other flats on the estate to educate tenants about fire safety, to offer a free smoke alarm and to check for any potential hazards.
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 CamberwellExperts at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell