LONDON: At least 12 people were killed and a further 18 are in critical care following a massive fire that ravaged a high-rise apartment building in west London early Wednesday, with the death toll expected to rise further, police said.
A total of 79 people were treated at six hospitals, with firefighters still at the scene of the blaze — at Grenfell Tower near Notting Hill in north Kensington — late on Wednesday afternoon.
The inferno, which started at approximately 1 a.m. London time, saw flames leap up the side of the 24-story building, as firefighters battled the blaze, and a plume of smoke could be seen for several miles.
Residents were seen throwing small children from high windows to people on the ground, in a desperate bid to save them from the fire that swept through the London residential block.
One baby thrown from the 24-story building in west London was safely caught, according to witnesses of Wednesday morning’s lethal fire.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, although one witness reportedly said that a fridge had “exploded.” Other residents stated the fire appeared to have begun in an apartment on a lower floor and spread upwards quickly.
People at the scene spoke of being unable to reach friends and family who had been inside. Others said they could see people inside using flashlights and mobile phones to try to signal for help from higher floors.
In an admission Wednesday afternoon that is sure to be part of a future investigation, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization, which runs the council’s homes, stated that it was “aware that concerns have been raised historically by residents” with regard to fire safety at Grenfell Tower.
Local residents told Arab News that no fire alarm sounded as the blaze broke out, and that once alerted to the situation they were told to stay inside their apartments. Fire crews struggled to access Grenfell Tower, compounding the already lethal situation.
Papia, a local resident, said that she lost communication with two friends who live in the block. She said that the elderly couple were trapped in the building and had called their children to “ask for forgiveness” and have not been heard from since.
“My friend was advised to go into the bathroom and put some wet towels over her face and over her family, then afterwards they lost all communication. They were on the 17th floor,” Papia, who did not give her family name, told Arab News.
“The fire rapidly took over, they didn’t have a chance… they had no chance. They were told to stay in the bathroom, in their flat, so that’s what they did.”
One local resident at the scene told Arab News that access to the building was a problem, making the fire-rescue efforts more difficult.
“The fire engine couldn’t get to the building. It’s always been like that... It’s crazy,” said Chris, who did not give his last name.
Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton called the blaze an “unprecedented incident” unlike anything she had seen in her 29-year career as a firefighter.
Just flew over london. So sad to see this #londonfire pic.twitter.com/6kEwZR3JUz
— Dobbo (@iamdobbo_) June 14, 2017
Nassima Boutrig, who lives opposite the building, said she was awakened by sirens and smoke so thick that it filled her home as well.
“We saw the people screaming,” she said. “A lot of people said ‘Help, help, help.’ The fire brigade could only help downstairs. It was fire up, up, up. They couldn’t stop the fire.”
Boutrig said her friend’s brother, wife and children lived in the building and that her friend was waiting to find out if they were OK.
Others searched for information at makeshift centers set up at churches and recreation centers. At St. Clement’s Church, where evacuees from neighboring buildings gathered, Hadra Hassad was trying to find one of her closest friends, who lived on the 21st floor. Hassad said she believed one of her friend’s daughters is in the hospital, but didn’t know which one.
Ambulances and fire trucks filled the streets around the building, which is located in a diverse, working class area of London. People who live nearby were evacuated, some carrying pets in their arms as they left. Volunteers handed out bottled water.
Helicopters hovered overhead and smoke hung over the scene. Exhausted firefighters sprawled on the pavement just inside the police cordon, drinking water from plastic bottles.
The London Fire Brigade said 45 fire engines and 200 firefighters were called to the scene. Assistant Fire Commissioner Dan Daly said it was a large and very serious incident.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire,” he said in a post on the brigade’s Facebook page.
Grenfell Tower on fire in Latimer Road West London#BreakingNews # #LondonFire #London #GrenfellTower #WestLondon pic.twitter.com/0vLPdWFOkx
— iDKMAN (@BLIN0002) June 14, 2017
George Clarke told Radio 5 Live that he was covered in ash even though he was 100 meters from the scene.
He said he saw people waving flashlights from the top levels of the building and saw rescuers “doing an incredible job” trying to get people out.
Tim Downie, who lives not far away, told Britain’s Press Association that he feared the building could collapse. He said he heard sirens, helicopters and shouting and then saw the building engulfed in flames.
“It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen. I just hope they have got everyone out,” he said. “People have been bringing water, clothes, anything they’ve got to help, out to the cordon.”
People in the area were on Wednesday morning seen wearing face masks in the area due to the acrid smoke.
Emergency centers were set up, with people dropping off food, water, clothes and blankets.
