LIVES LOST IN MIDNIGHT INFERNO

Dozens are presumed dead after Grenfell Tower in Kensington, London, was destroyed by an out of control fire in the early hours of this morning.

 

Residents became trapped in the 24-storey building when flames began engulfing the flats just after midnight.

 

The blaze is thought to have been triggered when a faulty fridge/freezer caught fire in Apartment 16 on the fourth floor. Authorities were alerted, but as per regulation residents were told to remain in their rooms.

 

There have been suggestions that the recent refurbishments to the outside of the building might have accelerated the fire’s spread up the tower.

 

A blog entitled Grenfell Action Group created by people claiming to be residents posted this message today.

 

“All our warnings fell on deaf ears and we predicted that a catastrophe like this was inevitable and just a matter of time,” they said.

 

In November 2016, a post implied that the management of the building, KCTMO, were neglecting the health and safety of residents.

 

“It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord, the KCTMO , and bring an end to the dangerous living conditions and neglect of health and safety legislation that they inflict upon their tenants and leaseholders,” they posted.

 

One of the confirmed victims, Rania Ibrahim, Snapchatted and streamed on Facebook her final moments trapped in the tower with her children.

 

She can be heard desperately praying.

 

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Another person claiming to be a resident of the tower live tweeted her ordeal.

 

After several hours @rsrzy_ eased the worries of her friends and family when she tweeted: “I’m safe guys, please don’t worry."

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The “stay and wait” advice given by emergency services is already coming under intense scrutiny.

 

David Silbert, a fire brigade union safety expert, explained why this advice was given.

 

“The principle that tower blocks are built on is that every flat is a fire-resisting box,” he said.

 

“Every flat is completely surrounded by fire-resisting construction from the rest of the building.

 

“You should be able to set fire to your own flat and leave it to completely burn out, and it won’t affect anyone else in the building.”

 

The Grenfell tragedy is officially the worst residential fire disaster in the UK since World War Two.