Death tally in U.K. fire soars
THE DEATH toll from the fire that tore through a London high-rise has almost doubled — as residents lash out at the government’s response to one of the deadliest blazes in U.K. history.
Fifty-eight people are now believed to have been killed in the Grenfell Tower fire, authorities said Saturday.
“Whilst I sincerely hope that our work over the coming days means that we able to say that less people are confirmed as having died, I also have to consider the sad reality that this may rise,” said Metropolitan Police Cmdr. Stuart Cundy.
The high number includes the 30 confirmed fatalities police announced a day earlier.
There are 16 bodies currently in a London morgue, Cundy said, and the remaining victims are missing and presumed dead.
Nineteen people are still in the hospital, 10 of whom are in critical condition, officials said.
London is reeling from Wednesday’s early-morning blaze, which charred the bulk of the 120-apartment tower in the city’s Kensington neighborhood.
What caused the fire to break out remains unclear, but authorities indicated Friday they don’t believe it was intentional.
Up to 600 people are believed to have lived in the 24-story tower, and many remain missing.
Cundy made a plea to anyone who escaped the tower, but hasn’t checked in with police, to come forward.
“It does not matter why you have not told us, what is important is that we know you are safe,” he said.
Mohammad Alhajali, 23, on Saturday became the first victim officially identified by police.
Tower residents had made complaints about the building, which they said mostly went unanswered.