A massive fire that tore through a 24-story apartment building in west London has claimed a number of lives, fire officials confirmed, as rescuers frantically worked to reach people believed still trapped.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared a "major incident" after the blaze engulfed the Grenfell Tower in North Kensington just before 1 a.m local time Wednesday. Around 200 firefighters, 40 fire trucks and 20 ambulance crews were at the scene.
A website run by the "Grenfell Action Group" said residents of the tower had expressed concerns over the safety of the building, specifically pointing to fire risks. Fire chiefs said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the blaze.
Don Carlos wrote:It's a naughty one...pretty sure the death toll will be high
Incredible in this day and age given fire safety rules & regulations and yes, there will be many lost
I saw the news item last night and there were people still in their apartments (apparently) waving for assistance after the blaze was mostly extinguished. 'Towering inferno' an apt description.
