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Grenfell Tower Fire: Death Toll Rises to 79

Residents were trapped "screaming for their lives" as flames raged through a 27-storey tower block in Notting Hill in the early hours today. Witnesses described "horrible scenes" as firefighters battled the inferno at Grenfell Tower in the Lancaster West estate near Ladbroke Grove. London Fire Brigade confirmed "a number of fatalities" this morning. They could not say how many people were killed due to the "complexity" of the operation. Forty fire engines with 200 officers were called shortly before 1am as flames engulfed the block from the second floor upwards "within seconds". London Ambulance Service said 50 people had been taken to five hospitals following the fire. Witnesses reported other people trapped on the upper storeys. 14th June 2017. © Jeremy Selwyn / Evening Standard / eyevine Contact eyevine for more information about using this image: T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709 E: info@eyevine.com http://www.eyevine.com

The death toll from the Grenfell Tower fire has risen to 79, police have said.

Metropolitan police commander Stuart Cundy said five people had been formally identified and 74 were missing, presumed dead.

Cundy told reporters the “awful reality” was that it might not be possible to identify all the victims.

Some families have lost more than one member, he added.

The announcement came before a minute’s silence was to be held at 11am across all government buildings to remember the people who lost their lives and all those affected by the fire in north Kensington.

Cundy said the death toll may still change, but not as significantly as it has in recent days.

He fought back tears as he told reporters about the scene inside the 24-storey tower in north Kensington.

Footage from inside the gutted building has been released, showing the extent of the damage caused by the blaze.

He said it had been “incredibly emotional working in there”, adding: “On Saturday I went in myself and went to the top floor. And it is incredibly hard to describe the devastation in some parts of that building.”

Five people who had been reported missing after the disaster have been found safe and well, he added.

More to come …

  

 

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