Lives lost as huge fire hits London tower block

Fire

A huge fire has ravaged Grenfell Tower council flat block in north Kensington, London, trapping residents and claiming several lives.

First reports of the fire at the 24-storey council block, which contains 120 flats, came in at 0.54 on Wednesday morning, the BBC reports.

According to the BBC, 12 people were confirmed dead, but fire chiefs have warned the number of deaths is expected to rise. It added that London Ambulance had said more than 50 people were being treated in hospital.

The tower, in Latimer Road on the Lancaster West estate, was built in 1974 by Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council.

The tower is managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation on behalf of the council, the BBC said.

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