BBC Monitoring
News from around the globe

Images of the fire at London's Grenfell Tower dominate the front pages of Iranian newspapers today and prompt comment in China’s social media – because both countries have witnessed similarly devastating experiences.

The fire is particularly resonant for Iranians, as it recalls the 17-storey Plasco commercial tower fire in Tehran in January, which killed 20 firefighters when the building collapsed.

And for Chinese online commentators, Grenfell Tower has prompted memories of a deadly Shanghai tower block fire in 2010. Both incidents led to accusations of official cover-up and mismanagement.

"China has so many high-rises, and also many jerry-built [tofu-dreg] construction projects. We must take this as a warning!" said Yule JK, from Shenzhen, on Sina news portal.

Image source, Jahan-e Sanaat

We spoke to residents and the people who run a tower block in Birmingham.

The search for victims "could take weeks" according to the London Fire Brigade commissioner.

Dany Cotton said that damage to the upper floors of Grenfell Tower mean that specialist search dogs will do an initial search there "because they are much lighter than people and can cover a greater area in a very short space of time".

Met Police Commander Stuart Cundy said: "It would be wrong and incredibly distressing to give a number [of the missing]".

The number of victims is expected to rise.

Senior detective DCI Matt Boner will lead the investigation into the fire.

Police have confirmed that 17 people have been killed in the Grenfell Tower blaze.

The number is still expected to rise.

Tulip Mazumdar
Global Health Correspondent

At this point more people have been coming here desperately searching to see if their family members are here.

But as time goes on, it's becoming less likely that people will be coming here for treatment.

It's been a harrowing morning. Yesterday we saw families coming in. There was a man at the entrance and he was shouting, saying, "We're not getting any information, I don't know where my loved ones are."

Today we're getting similar scenes, much more difficult. A woman was wailing, she was so upset. Her screams were so chilling we asked them if they were OK.

They were looking for a mother; her name is Burkit Haftom. They were looking for her and her 12-year-old son, Biruk Haftom. They were desperately searching, going from hospital to hospital. St Mary's was their last hope.

They were told by police that if their family were not registered at any of the hospitals, then they would have to assume the worst.

I saw them when they made that realisation. They were so upset, they didn't know what to do.

They drove away not knowing what they were going to do, where they were going to go.

BBC Radio London

Kurt Barling, a former special correspondent at the BBC who covered the Lakanal House tragedy in 2009 when six people died, told the Robert Elms Show: "We are not paying enough attention to the kind of materials used to build and refurbish buildings. We are compromising safety.

"This is four years after a major inquest into a major fire and this is far worse. It's a national scandal and we need a national public inquiry."

The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Matt Wrack, is at the Grenfell Tower.

He tells BBC Radio 5 Live that the building looks unsafe, and there "seem to be bits leaning out". Structural engineers have been in to give advice on its current state, so fire chiefs can judge whether it is safe for firefighters to work in it.

He says fire crews who attended the blaze in the early hours of Wednesday will never have seen anything like it.

Firefighters are trained to tackle fires in high-rises, but would expect the fire to be contained to the room, or at least to the flat or floor of origin.

"Firefighters turning up to that incident the night before last would have been absolutely flabbergasted to see the whole building engulfed in fire as it was," he says.

Mr Wrack adds that there is "a huge amount of rubble, debris" that has fallen from the building, causing problems for fire crews trying to get in.

He describes "a scene of utter devastation on the ground around the block itself".

The head of the Fire Brigades Union says he saw the prime minister during her visit earlier this morning, and is now going to brief the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is set to visit the scene shortly.

Image source, PA

Dozens of volunteers from the local community have rallied round to help those affected by the fire.

Rory Walsh, who lives nearby, woke in the early hours after the block in west London was destroyed by fire.

He worked throughout the night at Maxilla Social Club, helping affected families find shelter. He went back after his English exam to volunteer again.

Read the full story

Sian Berry, chair of the London Assembly Housing Committee, has said that her group had made recommendations for improvements to the publication of risk assessments.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire she said the system, which holds private landlords accountable, isn't as robust as it used to be.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and will be subject to an investigation.

What questions will investigators have to consider?

Read our full story

London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton describes her team's response to the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council has provided an update on efforts to provide accommodation for the victims of the blaze.

A spokesman for the council told the BBC that accommodation had so far been found for 77 households across 102 rooms in west London hotels.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

It is understood that a Government minister will to make a statement in Parliament this afternoon about the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The statement will not take place in the main Commons chamber as Parliament is not formally in session. Instead, the meeting will take place in a Commons committee room.

The Government has not yet said who will make the statement - although it is thought likely to be the policing and fire minister Nick Hurd.

Image source, Getty Images

Kensington and Chelsea council says it has been inundated with items donated for the Grenfell fire victims and has asked people to hold off bringing any more.

In a statement, external on its website, it said: "The Council would like to thank all those who have made generous donations of accommodation, food, clothing and other items.

"We would ask you to please hold off for now as we have been inundated with useful items. When we need donations again we will update via our website and social media."

PM Theresa May, dressed in black, has left the scene at Grenfell Tower after speaking to police officers and fire crews in what was described as a "private visit".

Image source, PA

NHS England says 37 people remain in hospital, 17 of whom are in critical care.

Patients are now being treated in five hospitals across London. They are:

• King's College Hospital: Ten patients, six in critical condition
• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital: Nine patients, seven in critical care
• The Royal Free: Six patients, one critical
• Guys and St Thomas': One patient
• St Mary's Hospital: Eleven patients, three in critical condition