A fire that engulfed a block of flats in east London overnight is under control and everyone has been accounted for, the London Fire Brigade says
A 17-year-old resident fears his family has "lost everything", as he tells the BBC about waking up his dad while the room filled with smoke
Firefighters are investigating the cause of the Dagenham blaze; the LFB said earlier the building had known "fire safety issues"
Meanwhile, a separate fire in a high-rise block in Blackwall, south-east London, has also been brought under control
Watch: Drone footage shows smoking building and charred out exterior
Goulbourne goes on to thank the firefighters and their partners, who worked "arduously" through the night.
He says an extensive search and rescue operation took place, while a simultaneous evacuation was carried out.
Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne is joined by the Met police for this latest update.
We have now stood down the major incident, Goulbourne says.
He goes on to thank the firefighters involved in the rescue operation who worked in "dangerous" conditions to rescue and evacuate.
"Everyone has been accounted for," he adds.
Shortly, we're going to be hearing once again from the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
You can follow here for updates from that presser, or press the watch live button at the top of this page.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest as soon as we have it.
Chi Chi Izundu
Reporting from Dagenham, east London
Sam, who lives on the fourth floor of the Dagenham building, tells me how he had just returned back from hospital when the fire broke out.
He tells me that he inhaled lots of smoke and that he’s still in shock.
He’s here at the cordon with his aunt and other relatives.
He’s still dressed in his hospital gown and the socks he had on when he fled the fire.
Emma Pengelly
BBC News
Let's return to a story we reported on a little earlier.
Dinesh Raj told the BBC how his six-year-old daughter was staying with his friend's family when the fire started to spread in a residential building on Freshwater Road, Dagenham. Raj's daughter, and his friends, were able to make it out of the building safely.
His friend, Karthick Kannaiah, now tells us how he and his wife, Meghana, rushed out of their flat with their six-month-old baby and Dinesh's daughter after waking to the smell of smoke.
Kannaiah was sleeping when his wife woke him up in shock, saying that there was a fire on the scaffolding outside their building.
Quote MessageI opened the window and could see the flames, it was as though I was seeing a horror movie."
Karthick Kannaiah
Kannaiah tells the BBC they opened their doors and saw their neighbours "rushing towards the stairs", adding: “It was the most terrifying experience ... like a do or die situation.”
The family, who live on the second floor, escaped safely and are now staying with their friend who lives nearby.
Kannaiah shared this video of their experience:
Sirens blare and smoke fills the air as Dagenham fire burns
We can now bring you some images that begin to show the aftermath of a fire that engulfed a building in east London in the early hours of Monday morning.
The newest pictures show what has been left behind after the blaze, with fire damage already appearing on the outside of the building and some patches of smoke still visible.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaIn this drone footage from outside the building, you can also start to see the full scope of the burned out block of flats in Dagenham.
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Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Dagenham, east London
I've just spoken to Forida Khatun who is six months pregnant and lives on the sixth floor in the block of flats in east London.
She was awake when she first smelt smoke.
She said she went to the window and saw the fire.
The mother-to-be described people “running down the stairs”.
“The smoke was getting heavier… and everyone was coughing coming down”.
She also said that she didn’t hear a fire alarm and there were no warnings.
Chi Chi Izundu
Reporting from Dagenham, east London
Outside the east London, Dagenham building that caught fire earlier this morning, there are still a number of ambulances here.
Paramedics are standing by with stretchers in case others need help.
For the last ten minutes, there has been a lot of glass smashing coming from the building as fire crews continue to try to contain the fire.
Here's a look at what the scene outside the Dagenham building that caught fire earlier today looks like right now.
As you can see, smoke continues to rise from the roof of as firefighters continue to spray the building - but it appears as though the flames have been brought under control.
It's a much different scene to several hours earlier, when the flames seemed to engulf the top floors of the building - take a look at that footage here:
Dagenham fire: Drone footage shows firefighters tackling blaze
Image source, EPAWe're now hearing from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who has just thanked firefighters and emergency services for their "bravery and swift response".
Cooper says ministers were being kept updated on the incident.
Quote MessageMy thoughts are with all those affected by the major fire incident in Dagenham."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
The devastating fire that engulfed a flat in east London, Dagenham during Monday's early hours continues to be tackled by London's firefighters.
See how the morning unfolded here in pictures:
Image source, UK News in PicturesHours after the fire broke out, smoke continued to billow from the roof and the scaffolding that surrounded the Freshwater Road building
Image source, UK News in PicturesAn aerial image shows firefighters and engines nearby to the scene
The London Fire Brigade said 225 firefighters responded to the scene this morning
Image source, @karthick_kmpkEarlier this morning, when the blaze was still out of control, the fire managed to reach some of the building's highest floors
We've recently heard from the London Fire Brigade (LFB), who provided the latest update on the situation in east London, after a fire spread across the floors of a residential building on Freshwater Road, Dagenham.
Here's what we know so far:
We'll continue to bring you the latest updates as soon as we have it.
Simon Jones
Reporting from Dagenham, east London
Some more details from some of the people in Dagenham who witnessed this morning's blaze.
One resident who lives on the first floor of the building told me he was awoken in the early hours by one of his neighbours frantically banging on his door.
She was doing the same to all the flats in the corridor.
He tells me he saw "explosive" flames and was relieved to get out safely.
We’re still waiting to hear from London Fire Brigade about whether everyone has been accounted for.
Injuries caused by the Dagenham fire have been "minimal" due to the "rapid response" from the London Fire Brigade (LFB), the area's MP has said.
Earlier, LFB said four people were treated by the ambulance service at the scene, and two were taken to hospital.
In a post on X, Margaret Mullane, the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, wrote: "Terrible scenes in Dagenham this morning as @LondonFire tackle the blaze at Freshwater Rd.
"Thanks to their rapid response injury was minimal. I will be visiting the rescue centre today to see what help and support I can offer the residents and businesses who have lost everything."
Dinesh Raj
We can now bring you some first-hand accounts from residents of the east London building that caught fire earlier today.
Dinesh Raj, whose six-year-old daughter was having a sleepover with friends in the Dagenham flats when the fire broke out, tells the BBC how the children are “calm now, but terrified” initially.
Raj says he received a call from his friend, who was looking after his daughter, at "about 03:00", saying there was a fire in the building.
He rushed to the scene in his car immediately.
His friend's family got out immediately after they could smell smoke, Dinesh explains, grabbing their six-month-old baby and his daughter.
We can now bring you some more footage of what this morning's blaze in east London looked like a bit earlier today.
Drone footage shows huge flames rising above the building as London Fire Brigade (LFB) were called to the fire on Freshwater Road, Dagenham, in the early hours of Monday morning.
In the latest update, LFB said that two people have been taken to hospital and more than 100 residents evacuated. People living in the area are being urged to keep their doors and windows closed.
Assistant Commissioner Goulbourne says the cause of the fire is currently unknown but a "full" investigation will take place in due course.
Before ending the presser, he's asked by a BBC reporter whether everyone believed to be in the building when the fire broke out is accounted for.
Ast Com Goulbourne does not reply, having earlier stated that he would not be taking questions at the briefing.
He previously said a "significant" search and rescue operation is still underway.
A rest centre has been set up to support local residents, according to Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne.
Given the fire is producing "heavy smoke", he advises local residents to keep their windows closed and for people to avoid the area where possible.
The spokesman adds the building has a "number of fire safety issues known to the London Fire Brigade".
Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne says a significant search and rescue operation is still taking place.