Massive Blaze Engulfs 27-Story Block in W London
Local Editor
A massive fire engulfed a high-rise apartment block on Latimer Road west London, with hundreds of firefighters struggling to put out flames from the 2nd floor to the top.
The fire broke out in the 27-story Lancaster West Estate tower in the early hours of Wednesday when most of the residents would have still been in bed.
The fire brigade said 45 fire engines and 200 firefighters as well as 20 ambulances were sent to the building which has 120 flats and was built in 1974, but recently underwent a major refurbishment.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire," London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Dan Daly said.
"This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances," he added.
Several people are trapped inside the building with reports that it might collapse.
For his part, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said a "major incident" had been declared.
Police officials said that they had started an evacuation of the block and the neighboring buildings, adding some people were being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The streets around the tower have been sealed off and there is a chaos there with "people in night clothes, no shoes, crying, looking for family."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
