Grenfell Tower inferno death toll rises to 30
Anger over the incident has been steadily growing as members of the community demand answers on how the fire was able to spread to quickly
The blaze spread across the entire building within mintues
The death toll from the Grenfell Tower inferno has risen to 30, according to the London Metropolitan Police. They added that no survivors are expected to be found.
Flames raced through the 24-floor Grenfell Tower block of apartments in the north Kensington area after taking hold around 1:00am. The fire rapidly engulfed the full height of the high-rise, and was still burning strongly more than six hours later, with a thick pall of dark smoke visible across the capital.
More than 200 firefighters, backed up by 40 fire engines, fought for hours to try to bring the blaze, one of the biggest seen in central London in recent years, under control.
The London fire commissioner, Dany Cotton, said that in her 29 years as a firefighter, she had never seen anything of the same scale.
“This is a major fire that has affected all floors of this 24-storey building, from the second floor upwards,” she said.
The source of the fire was determined to have been a faulty refrigerator in an apartment on the building’s fourth floor, with residents of the tower, as well as the surrounding area have demanding answers on why the fire was able to spread so quickly.
The 1970s building underwent a £10 million (€11.35 million) refurbishment that was completed last year, when it was fitted with a new communal heating system, double glazing and exterior cladding.
Yesterday Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and London Mayor Sadiq Kahn met with residents of the community.
Prime Minister Theresa May visited victims in hospital after facing harsh criticism yesterday over her decision to visit the firefighter and emergency workers at the site of the blaze rather than meeting with members of the community.
The queen has also visited the site of the tragedy.
