Fire engulfs building in UK, at least 6 dead
BURNING TOWER Residents complained of inaction by officials on fire hazard
At least six people died and 20 were critical when fire and flames licked through a 24-storey block of flats in west London on Wednesday, spreading ash, smoke and debris over a wide area, hitting residents as well as coalition talks of the minority Theresa May government.
The Grenfell Tower in north Kensington resembled a blazing torch with smoke billowing against the skyline at dawn, spreading panic and rendering hundreds of residents homeless. The building was long considered a fire hazard, but residents complained of inaction by officials.
The death toll was expected to rise after the hospital officials revealed 20 of the 74 being treated were critical. Gurdwaras, local residents and others across London offered shelter and help to the affected, who were jolted from sleep by smoke and fire around 1am local time .
Many residents managed to escape, but witnesses reported children and babies dropped from various floors in the hope that they survive. Some managed to escape after slithering down the building with the help of bedsheets tied together.
No announcement was to be made about the ongoing coalition talks between the Democratic Unionist Party and the minority May government in view of the fire, DUP and Conservative party sources said.
The London Fire Brigade called it an “unprecedented situation”, while mayor Sadiq Khan promised to ask questions why the usual strict fire safety measures in the country were not followed in the building. A review of all such buildings was also planned. The Indian high commission set up an emergency helpline number, but there were no reports of any Indian citizen affected. Commander Stuart Cundy of the Metropolitan Police said fatalities are likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days ”. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson will testify before a House panel as momentum builds on Capitol Hill for a package of new Russia sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Tillerson was scheduled to