City in silent tribute to Grenfell Tower victims
GLASGOW and the rest of the UK fell silent today in tribute to those who had lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire.
Commuters at Central Station joined staff to pause for the minute’s silence.
It came was as the death toll from the tower block blaze had risen to 79.
Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said five people had been formally identified and the rest were “sadly” missing, presumed dead.
He said 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.
Mr 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.
Mr Cundy said: “Sadly, as of this morning, I am afraid to say there are now 79 people who we believe are now dead or missing and we have to presume they are dead.”
He said police had received some 70 pictures and videos of the fire from the public and urged them to send more as officers investigate the blaze.
He would not be drawn on the specifics of the criminal investigation of the fire, including whether anyone had been arrested or raids carried out.
As anger continued in the wake of the disaster, described by London Mayor Sadiq Khan as a “preventable accident”, the Government announced that those left homeless will be given at least £5,500 from an emergency fund.
Residents will be given £500 in cash followed by a bank payment for the rest from Monday, with the money coming from the £5million fund announced by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Meanwhile, supplies donated by generous Glaswegians have been delivered to refuge centres helping those affected by the fire.
Glasgow the Caring City has transported bottled water and hygiene kits to the community emergency workers and engineers on the site.
In the days following the tragedy, the charity gathered six tonnes of bottled water and more than six thousands bar of soap to distribute to those in need.
A truck carrying donations arrived in London this morning.