London Fire: After a Week, Death Toll Rises to 79

Grenfell Tower fire: The death toll is likely to increase, say authorities.

Around 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters were deployed to fight the fire that raged from the second floor to the top floor of a building. (Photo: AP)

• A massive fire broke out at London’s Grenfell Tower early on 14 June

  
• The death toll has risen to 79
  
• The toll could still change if anyone reported as missing was found alive
  
• British PM Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry

  
• The local community has accused the government of a slow and inadequate reaction
  
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan questioned the safety of tower blocks
  

Death Toll Rises to 79

The death toll from a fire that ravaged a London tower block last week has risen to 79, police said on Monday, as the government tried to show it was improving its handling of a tragedy that has angered the public.

"I believe there are 79 people that are either dead, or missing, and sadly I have to presume are dead," Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters.

The death toll was first given as 12 before being revised up to 17, then 30, then 58.

At Least 30 Dead

The death toll from the London tower block fire has risen to at least 30 and police are considering whether criminal offences had been committed, a senior police officer said on Friday.

We know that at least 30 people have died as a result of this fire.

Stuart Cundy, Commander

He added that 24 people were still in hospital and 12 were receiving critical care.

"The investigation will look in into what criminal offences may have been committed," Cundy said.

Chanting “We Want Justice”, Protesters Storm Local Town Hall After London Fire

Several hundred protesters chanting “we want justice” stormed a local town hall in London on Friday protesting over the deadly fire at the London tower.

The angry protesters barged their way through an automatic door at Kensington and Chelsea town hall and sought to gain entry to an upper floor. Police barred their way and scuffles broke out.

They chanted: “We want justice”, “bring them out” and “shame on you”. A larger crowd of people remained outside. Some people then left the building though others remained inside.

Death Toll Rises to 17

The death toll from the London tower block fire has risen to 17 and the figure is expected to rise further, police said on 15 June. The Sun newspaper reported that at least 65 are missing or feared dead.

When asked on Thursday whether the death toll could exceed 100, London police commander Stuart Cundy said:

I’d like to hope that it isn’t going to be triple figures.

PM May Visits Burnt Tower

British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived on Thursday at the tower block in West London that was destroyed by fire.

Authorities have confirmed that 12 people were killed in the blaze at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington and the toll is expected to rise further.

Theresa May Orders Full Public Inquiry

British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the London tower block fire.

Right now, people want answers and it’s absolutely right and that’s why I am today ordering a full public inquiry into this disaster. We need to know what happened, we need to have an explanation of this. People deserve answers, the inquiry will give them.

Theresa May, British Prime Minister

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan questioned the safety of the tower block after several people were feared dead in the fire. “These questions are really important questions that need to be answered,” Khan told BBC Radio.

Meanwhile, firefighters have not been able to conduct a comprehensive search because it is not safe for them to walk to the edges of the building, the fire brigade chief said on Thursday.

A Complete Search of Burnt Tower Yet to be Conducted: London Fire Brigade

Firefighters have not been able to conduct a comprehensive search of the 27-storey block of flats in west London that went up in flames because it is not safe for them to walk to the edges of the building, the fire brigade chief said on Thursday.

Some of the internal structures are not regarded as safe at the moment, however the central core is, so my firefighters have been up to the top floor last night, they have done the initial brief search from the doorways.

Dany Cotton, London fire chief

12 Confirmed Dead in London Fire, Death Toll Likely to Increase

12 people have been confirmed dead in the fire at the London tower block, the Metropolitan police said. Earlier, the police had said that the death toll was expected to increase.

UK PM May Deeply Saddened by Loss of Life: Spokesperson

Incumbent British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday she was deeply saddened by the loss of life in a fire at the London tower block.

The Prime Minister is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in the Grenfell Tower and is being kept constantly updated on the situation.

Spokesperson

May has asked for a cross-government meeting, chaired by police and fire minister Nick Hurd, to take place at 3 pm (UK time), to coordinate the response and make sure the government is ready to help emergency services and local authorities, he added.

At Least 74 Injured Being Treated at Hospitals; 20 Critical

According to the latest statement issued by the London Ambulance Service, the number of injured who are at hospitals for treatment has increased to 74, with 10 of them making their own way.

The statement further added that “20 people are currently in critical care”.

Fire Service Will be Dealing With Fire For Next 24 Hours, But Building Won’t Collapse

Fire crews will be tackling the fire which engulfed the 24-storey London apartment block for at least the next 24 hours, the London Fire Brigade said on Wednesday.

It has been a very large and very significant fire, I anticipate the London Fire Brigade will be on scene dealing with this fire for at least the next 24 hour

Dany Cotton, London fire commissioner

Firefighters continue their rescue operations, (Photo: AP)

Cotton also said a number of firefighters had sustained minor injuries during the incident.

However, the fire brigade earlier also said that the building was not in the danger of collapsing.

In a tweet, it had said:

“Our specialist urban search and rescue crews and a structural engineer have checked the building and said that it is not in danger of collapsing and that it is safe for our crews to be in there,” it added.

Residents Threw Children From Building: BBC

Speaking to BBC, a resident who was evacuated from the building recalled that he saw trapped persons in the building throw their children out of their windows, so they could escape the fire.

One woman lost two of her six children when trying to escape the burning building witnesses said.

Bystanders and residents reported scenes of panic.

“Everyone was in shock, everyone was fleeing, screaming,” Michael Paramasivan, a resident of the block, told BBC radio.

I spoke to a lady who lives on the 21st floor. She has got six kids. She left with all six of them. When she got downstairs there were only four of them with her. She is now breaking her heart.

Michael Paramasivan, resident of the block

Fire rages on in the London building on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)

A bystander, Samira Lamrani, said she saw a baby thrown from a ninth or 10th floor window.

"People were starting to appear at the windows, frantically banging and screaming," she told London's Evening Standard newspaper.

The windows were slightly ajar, a woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby and if somebody could catch her baby. Somebody did. A gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby

Samira Lamrani, bystander

These witness accounts could not be verified.

The building’s fire safety norms were not reviewed, despite several warnings from residents inhabiting the tower.

Mayor Sadiq Khan Questions Safety of Tower Block

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said questions will need to be answered over the safety of tower blocks after several people were killed in the fire.

Some residents said they had been advised they should stay in their flats in the event of a fire, while the block's residents association had previously warned it was worried about the risk of a serious fire.

Across London we have many, many tower blocks and what we can’t have is a situation where people’s safety is put at risk because of bad advice being given or if it is the case, as has been alleged, of tower blocks not being properly serviced or maintained.

Mayor Sadiq Khan to BBC Radio

Number of Fatalities Unknown: London Fire Commissioner

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton gave a statement, confirming the presence of fatalities. However, she could not confirm the number of fatalities, because of “the complexity of the building”, The Guardian reported.

30 Patients Taken to Five Hospitals

The London Ambulance services released a statement confirming that 30 patients have been transported to five hospitals across the city, following the fire.

Several Residents Trapped

Several residents are feared trapped in the fire that raged at the Grenfell Tower on Latimer Road in the Lancaster West Estate, reported British media. The tower houses 120 apartments, and streets around the tower have been cordoned off for safety purposes, The Guardian reported.

"We are dealing with a really serious fire that spread throughout the building," a spokesman for the fire brigade told Reuters. "The crews are doing all that they possibly can to tackle this fire."

The Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade said:

... we have deployed numerous resources & specialist appliances.

Resources Deployed

Resources, including ambulances, have been sent to the spot of accident and residents have been evacuated from the tower, tweeted the London’s Ambulance services. A number of people are also being treated for injuries inflicted by the fire.

London Mayor Declares Fire ‘Major Incident’

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted about the fire, terming it a ‘major incident’.

London Ambulance Services Releases Statement

The London Ambulance Services have sent over 20 ambulances to the accident spot to treat the injured.

Building Safe for Crews to Work: London Fire Commissioner

A structural engineer is checking the stability of the building, the fire brigade said.

“We have got a structural engineer, who in conjunction with my urban search and rescue advisor, is monitoring the stability of the building," London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton said.

At the moment the building continues to be safe for our crews to go and work in.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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