‘Meticulous’ forensic search finds 71 died in Grenfell fire
THE final death toll in the Grenfell Tower tragedy is 71, police said yesterday.
The figure includes baby Logan Gomes, who was still-born after his mother escaped the inferno.
Victoria King, 71, and her daughter Alexandra Atala, 40, are the last victims to be formally identified.
They died side-by-side as flames swept through the 24-storey block in West London on June 14.
Scotland Yard is conducting its biggest non-terrorist investigation into the cause of the tragedy.
Detectives are looking into a range of possible offences – including corporate manslaughter.
Commander Stuart Cundy said yesterday it was impossible to say when anyone might be charged over the blaze.
In the immediate aftermath of the catastrophe, 400 people were listed as missing.
Police said footage showed 223 people escaping the fire, while others were not at home at the time.
Mr Cundy said police had undertaken a “meticulous” search, recovery and identification operation, sifting through more than 15 tons of debris on each floor of the building.
He said: “Specialist teams working inside Grenfell Tower and the mortuary have pushed the boundaries of what was scientifically possible to identify people.”
The death toll was initially feared to be much higher.
Emma Dent Coad, Labour MP for Kensington, said: “There were rumours circulating soon after the fire challenging early estimates of deceased and missing. However, the police have done an incredibly thorough job.”