AMN
At least 12 people have killed after a huge fire engulfed a 24-story block of flats in west London early today and police expect that number to rise. Updated at IST (10.36)
Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, Dany Cotton said in a televised briefing that there have been a number of fatalities and the number cannot be confirmed at this time due to the size and complexity of the building. She said at least 200 firefighters are battling the blaze,and evacuating residents from the building.
A statement from the Fire brigade said the blaze started around 1 a.m. London time, from the second floor of the Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate. It said the fire engulfed all floors from the second to the top of the block which contained 120 apartments. Assistant Director of operations at the London Ambulance Service said they have taken 50 patients to five hospitals across London.
He said more than 20 ambulance crews as well as a hazardous area response team are at the scene to rescue the trapped residents inside the towering inferno. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan tweeted that a major incident has been declared at Grenfell Tower in Kensington.The BBC reported that debris falling from the building and that explosions were heard along with the sounds of glass breaking.