At least six dead in London tower block fire
The number is expected to rise, police say
Police man a security cordon as a huge fire engulfs the Grenfell Tower early June 14, 2017 in west London. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Six people were confirmed dead in a massive fire that engulfed a London tower block before dawn on Wednesday and the number is expected to rise, police said.
"I can confirm six fatalities at this time but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days," police commander Stuart Cundy said in a statement.
Burnout: When a city of 22 million has only 19 fire stations
Flames raced through the high-rise Grenfell Tower block of apartments in the north Kensington area after taking hold around 1 a.m. and witnesses reported many residents desperately calling for help from windows of upper floors.
More than 200 firefighters, backed up by 40 fire engines, fought for hours to try to bring the blaze, one of the biggest seen in central London in recent years, under control.
Six people were confirmed dead in a massive fire that engulfed a London tower block before dawn on Wednesday and the number is expected to rise, police said.
"I can confirm six fatalities at this time but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days," police commander Stuart Cundy said in a statement.
Burnout: When a city of 22 million has only 19 fire stations
Flames raced through the high-rise Grenfell Tower block of apartments in the north Kensington area after taking hold around 1 a.m. and witnesses reported many residents desperately calling for help from windows of upper floors.
More than 200 firefighters, backed up by 40 fire engines, fought for hours to try to bring the blaze, one of the biggest seen in central London in recent years, under control.