Huge London Fire, Death Toll Rising, HORRIFIC EVENT
Witnesses describe hearing screams and watching people jump out of the tower thought to be home to between 400 and 600 people!
At least 12 people are dead and dozens injured after a massive fire rapidly tore through a 24-story apartment building in west London in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
All 24 floors of Greenfell Tower in North Kensington were swiftly engulfed, trapping residents in their homes and reportedly forcing some to jump to escape the flames. London's fire chief, Danny Cotton, said the blaze was "unprecedented" in her 29 years of service.
Residents had reported concerns about fire safety in recent years, and questions were raised about whether a recent refurbishment of the building, in which exterior cladding was installed, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Firefighters continued to search the building for survivors.
Latest developments
-- 78 people were hospitalized, 18 of whom are in critical care.
-- Police warn the death toll will rise and no more survivors expected.
-- London Fire Brigade says it has rescued 65 people from the tower.
-- Residents say they were told to stay in their apartments as the fire raged.
-- 125 families live in the building, which also houses a children's nursery.
The Grenfell Tower fire at dawn on Wednesday.
The Grenfell Tower fire at dawn on Wednesday.
Around 200 firefighters, 40 fire trucks and 20 ambulance crews were at the scene at the height of the blaze.
"Sadly I can confirm there are now 12 people that have died that we know of. This is going to be a long and complex recovery operation and I do anticipate that the number of fatalities will sadly increase beyond those 12," London Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters in the early evening.
"I don't anticipate there will be further survivors."
The London Fire Brigade said it had rescued 65 people from the building and had now reached all 24 floors, though firefighters were yet to extinguish small flames in hard to reach pockets. It is unclear how many people are still unaccounted for.
