London fire as it happened: 12 residents confirmed dead and more fatalities expected after day of horror
Witnesses describe 'terrifying' scenes
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A huge fire has engulfed a large block of flats in London, killing at least a dozen people.
Hundreds of firefighters were sent to 24-storey Grenfell Tower in north Kensington, as large plumes of smoke billowed above the capital after the blaze broke out in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Witnesses spoke of "terrifying" scenes, with some residents suggesting they heard no alarm go off when the fire began. At least 75 people are being treated at six hospitals across the capital.
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A structural engineer is checking the stability of 24-storey Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, the fire brigade has said.“We have got a structural engineer, who in conjunction with my urban search and rescue advisor, is monitoring the stability of the building,” said London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton.
“At the moment the building continues to be safe for our crews to go and work in.”
Drawings of Glenfell Tower from the Planning and Building Control section of Royal Borough of Chelsea's website, via @themarkashley.
“#Grenfell Tower floor plan. 'Improved' high density layout means one set of stairs for 24 stories of 120 apartments. #LondonFire,” wrote Mr Ashley.
Flats started on 4th floor, lower ones added in remodelling.
Facebook has activated its safety check feature for users of the social networking site identified as being near the massive tower block fire.
People also took to Facebook to offer shelter, clothes and toiletries to those who were forced to evacuate Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, which contains 120 homes, according to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Tiago Etienne, 17, told The Independent he was the first person out of his block and saw one side of the tower in flames. He said within half an hour, the whole building was engulfed in fire.
He described seeing people waving clothes and towels from the windows and said he could see people very close to the flames.
Another resident, called Zara, said she saw a woman throw her son, who was about five years old, from a fifth or sixth floor window to escape the blaze.
She told LBC: “One woman actually threw her son out of the window. I think he's OK. I think he might have just had some broken bones and bruises.
“I left my phone at home so I went back to grab it and, by the time I got back, the road was completely blocked off, the fire had dramatically spread.
“It was like a scene from a Hollywood movie.”
Posting on Facebook and Twitter, dozens of people living in the Kensington area and beyond posted messages of support, offering food, clothes and a place to stay.
Red Nose Day director and broadcaster Emma Freud, Writer Emily Reynolds and X-Factor finalist Gifty Louise joined local businesses and several other members of the public in pledging assistance.
Tottenham MP David Lammy urged Londoners to donate food and other items to help those forced out of their homes on Wednesday morning.
Read more: ind.pn/2szUQRL
No agreement between the Conservatives and the DUP will be announced today due to the Grenfell Tower incident, according to DUP sources.
Muslims were among the first people on the scene as people were evacuated from Grenfell Tower. Andre Barroso, 33, told The Independent: “Muslims played a big part in getting a lot of people out.
“Most of the people I could see were Muslim. They have also been providing food and clothes.”
He said lots of people were still searching for friends and relatives who lived inside the tower.
Many people have donated water, food and clothing to the nearby St Clement church, where locals have taken refuge. Others are distributing water bottles to those waiting outside.
“Everybody was hands on. It was wonderful to see everyone come together.”
A baby was caught by a member of the public after being dropped from Grenfell Tower as it was engulfed with flames, a witness said.
Samira Lamrani said she saw a woman try to save a baby by dropping it from a window “on the ninth or 10th floor” to waiting members of the public below.
“People were starting to appear at the windows, frantically banging and screaming,” she told the Press Association. “The windows were slightly ajar, a woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby and if somebody could catch her baby.
“Somebody did, a gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby.” She added: “I could see people from all angles, banging and screaming for help.
“Us members of the public were reassuring them, telling them we've done what we can and that we've phoned 999, but obviously the look on their face was death.
“My daughter's friend said she observed an adult who made some sort of homemade parachute and tried to lower himself out of the window. The more I looked up, floor upon floor. Endless numbers of people.
“Mainly the kids, because obviously their voices, with their high pitched voices - that will remain with me for a long time.
“I could hear them screaming for their lives.”
There have been reports of fake tweets about the Grenfell Tower fire, many from accounts based in Mexico.Similar fabricated reports of missing people posted on social media, with pictures and unverified details of friends and family members, were seen during the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.
"Fake tweets of #GrenfellTower have started. Large number seen to be coming from accounts based in Mexico," wrote Buzzfeed reporter Rachael Krishna on Twitter. Some of the 'missing' tweets used a picture of Andrea Noel, a journalist based in Mexico.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, has said a “full investigation” will be carried out to try and prevent a similar incident taking place in future.
“Lives have been lost, many people have suffered serious injuries and others will be made homeless as a result of the fire,” he said.
“A full investigation will need to be undertaken at the first possible opportunity to establish exactly what happened and what can be done to prevent such an incident happening again.”
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