FIRE ENGULFS GRENFELL TOWER in West London a Lancaster West Estate near Notting Hill

Image may contain: night and fireIt is reported that the A40 Westway is closed in both directions
after a major fire that was reported around 01:30 am at the 24 storey Grenfell Tower that holds 120 flats in Kensington West London on Latimer road in the Grenfell Tower, a Lancaster West Estate near Notting Hill, broke out.Image may contain: sky, skyscraper and outdoor The place in White city is near the old BBC offices and had a multi million dollar refurbishment of the heating , water and other systems recently where the fire started on the fourth floor reportedly from a household electrical item. Because of the look in the congested community, there was cladding put up around the building and there are worries that the non fire proof cladding could have acted as an accelerant to the fire which quickly engulfed the tower block.Image may contain: sky, night, fire and outdoor
At one time the fire engulfed the whole apartment building and police are encouraging anyone still trapped to to self evacuate and not wait for emergency services as there are concerns about the structural safety of the building and risk of collapse of the building close to the West field shopping centre. Now and again there are chunks falling off the building due to the intense fire Image may contain: fireand heat. All floors of the building have been affected.
 
According to London Underground the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines have been closed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith because of the devastating fire which still has flames still licking at the Kensington Chelsea council burrough building of West London almost six hours later. At least 200 fire fighters are tackling the ongoing blaze. Kensington Chelsea council is the landlord of the building. Emergency centres have been set around to assist residents.
 
It is reported that the A40 Westway is closed in both directions
after a major fire that was reported around 01:30 am at the 27 storey Grenfell Tower that holds 120 flats in Kensington West London on Latimer road in the Grenfell Tower, a Lancaster West Estate near Notting Hill, broke out. The place in White city is near the old BBC offices and was refurbished recently.
At one time the fire engulfed the whole apartment building and police are encouraging anyone still trapped to to self evacuate and not wait for emergency services as there are concerns about the structural safety of the building and risk of collapse of the building.
According to London Underground the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines have been closed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith because of the devastating fire which still has flames almost six hours later. At least 200 fire fighters are tackling the ongoing blaze.
Fifty people have so far been taken to five London hospitals for medical assistance and there have been a number of fatalities so far from this major incident.
Grenfell Tower was built in 1974 and refurbished recently in 2015 and 2016 and the building had cladding attached to it to make it more appealing locally.
According to London Underground the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines have been closed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith because of the devastating fire which still has flames almost six hours later. At least 200 fire fighters are tackling the ongoing blaze.
No one knows if anyone is still trapped or how many people were affected. It is reportedly a heavily congested area, which also created a difficult navigation for emergency services. It is said to be a community which holds many Somali, North African or Moroccan people who would probably have been awake in this Ramadan month having broken Ramadan and this would have also helped in having so many people awake and evacuating the blaze at that point in time in what has now been declared a major incident in London.
Many buildings around the place have been evacuated as fears rise over the stability of the building which is yet to be established.
Many buildings around the place have been evacuated as fears rise over the stability of the building which is yet to be established and falling debris and exploding windows from the intense heat.
According to London Fire brigade, the cause of the fire is yet to be established but it is a major incident as multiple resources have been pooled into the fire fight. Furthermore it is reported that all 24th floor have been affected and sadly there have been several fatalities but the number cannot be ascertained at the moment because of the complexity of the building structure at the moment.
According to eye witnesses there were blood curdling screams from trapped victims and people jumping from upper floors in the building to escape the blaze while others were screaming don’t jump don’t jump please!
Flashing lights and from torches and mobile phones from people including children could be seen waving for help as the fire raged on.
At this time 0816 in London, the fire which was reported in the first call to emergency services at 12:54 in the morning, and within six minutes fire brigade were in place tackling the blaze. There are still pockets breaking out randomnly in what has clearly been generally every flat gutted by the fire in the Kensington tower block. According to residents who escaped, there were flames and smoke from that end of the building making it difficult to escape So far six people are confirmed dead but firefighters are painstakingly going room by roon on ever floor searching for survivors or victims of the tragedy amongst the ash and ruins but having to constantly dodge falling debris from poppping windows and collapsing ceilings in the building. At the end of the day the authorities have confirmed a total of twelve people died in the inferno but expect the death toll to rise.The Metropolitan Police have issued an emergency number for concerned people to call 0800 0961 233.. By Sibusiso Ngwenya
Photos: BBC/ Reuters

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