Update, 12.40pm SAST: London’s Metropolitan Police has confirmed that at least six people have died in the blaze that swept through North Kensington’s Grenfell Tower Wednesday morning.
“I can confirm six fatalities at this time but this figure is likely to rise during what is a complex recovery operation over a number of days,” commander Stuart Cundy explains in a press release.
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Latest statement re fire at #GrenfellTower. Call Casualty Bureau if concerned about a loved one or if they’ve been found safe 0800 0961 233 pic.twitter.com/UvM41bFiuO
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 14, 2017
Original article: Hashtags #LondonFire, #GrenfellTower and #NorthKensington were trending across Twitter worldwide this morning, as a multi-storey apartment block in West London caught fire.
“Police were called at 01:16hrs on Wednesday, 14 June to reports of a large fire at a block of flats in the Lancaster West Estate, W11,” London’s Metropolitan Police alerted in a press release.
Later, London Fire Brigade tweeted that it is attending to the fire, which was burning between the second and top floors, around 3.30am SAST Wednesday morning.
We’re currently attending a fire at a tower block on the Lancaster West Estate in #NorthKensington. pic.twitter.com/E7KegL5waZ
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 14, 2017
But the situation escalated through the early hours of the morning, as the structure fire wound its way around the London tower block.
#LatimerRoad — the address of the block — was the first trending hashtag to appear relating to the fire around 4am Wednesday
Adjacent buildings were evacuated, while the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declared the fire a “major incident”.
Major incident declared at Grenfell Tower in Kensington. 40 fire engines & 200 firefighters at the scene – follow @LondonFire for updates.
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) June 14, 2017
#LatimerRoad — the closest London Underground station to the blaze — was the first trending hashtag to appear relating to the fire around 4am Wednesday. #GrenfellTower, #ladbrokegrove and #NorthKensington then followed.
A slew of Twitter users flooded the social network with videos and pictures of the blaze.
#latimerroad #fire #London #whitecity pic.twitter.com/d580TdZL9R
— Paula Traven Sacks (@TravenSacks) June 14, 2017
#WestLondon #LatimerRoad #GrenfellTower #W11 #Fire pic.twitter.com/3NePgkDcR3
— Celeste Thomas (@mamapie) June 14, 2017
Absolutely insane. Praying for the safety of all those inside and near by
#LatimerRoad pic.twitter.com/b3Hj58sZxa — Lena (@LeensOmer) June 14, 2017
Twitter user Natalie Oxford documented the entire progression of the London tower block fire — from its most ferocious to its now smokey state.
Massive #fire in #w11 !!!
#GrenfellTower #kensington #london #PrayersForGrenfell pic.twitter.com/ozkHkchF6j — ✯ Natalie ✯ (@Natalie_Oxford) June 14, 2017
I really hope everyone got out ok. #PrayersForGrenfell #london #kensington #fire #GrenfellTowerFire pic.twitter.com/ERHNmJbPR0
— ✯ Natalie ✯ (@Natalie_Oxford) June 14, 2017
#GrenFellTower #GrenfellTowerFire #london #fire #kensington pic.twitter.com/k6yT3fgDzH
— ✯ Natalie ✯ (@Natalie_Oxford) June 14, 2017
It’s almost out.. just a few fires inside the flats. #GrenFellTower #GrenfellTowerFire #london #fire #kensington pic.twitter.com/nEBeih6fxJ
— ✯ Natalie ✯ (@Natalie_Oxford) June 14, 2017
The fire is still burning. #GrenFellTower #GrenfellTowerFire #london #fire #kensington pic.twitter.com/l3xSO6v97D
— ✯ Natalie ✯ (@Natalie_Oxford) June 14, 2017
While fatalities have not yet been confirmed, London Ambulance Service confirmed that “over 50 patients” have been taken to five hospitals across the city.
The situation however continues to be addressed by London police and emergency services.
“Extensive cordons are in place and nearby residents have been evacuated as a precaution. Please stay away from the area,” London Metropolitan Police announced in its latest tweet.
Extensive cordons are in place and nearby residents have been evacuated as a precaution. Please stay away from the area #GrenfellTower
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 14, 2017
Feature image: London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) via Twitter
