Nearly 80 presumed dead after London fire

SEVENTY-NINE people are dead or missing and presumed dead following a devastating blaze in a London tower block, police said yesterday, as Britain held a minute’s silence for the victims.

“I’m afraid to say there are now 79 people that we believe are either dead or missing and I sadly have to presume are dead,” Police Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters. Police had earlier put the toll fromWednesday’s inferno at 58 presumed dead.

He said only five people had been formally identified so far by police. Officers had earlier warned that some may never be identified due to the condition of their remains.

Cundy said the search and recovery operation was ongoing in the burnt-out 24-storey tower, which was built in 1974 and had received a major refurbishment that was completed last year.

He promised an “exhaustive” criminal investigation into the fire that would also look at the refurbishment. “We will go where the evidence may take us,” and do everything possible “to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice”, he said. “If I identify . . . an issue that is a risk to public safety, we will be sharing that immediately with the relevant authorities.”

Cundy warned the toll of 79 people could change. “I believe there may be people who were in Grenfell Tower that people may not know were missing and may not have realised they were in there on the night.”