London fire: Latest updates as Grenfell Tower fire recovery continues

Summary

Police presume 58 dead but the BBC understands the toll may rise to about 70
Government promises £5,500 for every household left homeless by the fire
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the disaster was a "preventable accident"
Minute's silence to be held on Monday at 11.00am
Chancellor says Grenfell Tower cladding was banned on high rises
Church services take place across the UK to honour victims

Live Reporting

Patrick Jackson, Lisa Wright and Dearbail Jordan

How tower was built 'key to establishing why fire spread quickly'published at 21:36 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
BBC News Channel
Christopher Miers is a forensic architect, an expert on why things go wrong in a building and how to prevent them.
He told the BBC:
Quote Message
I am very surprised to see the extent of the fire, how widely it burned through the building. As I understand, rapidly as well. Normally, our regulations would expect to see much less fire spread and that allows the fire brigade then to attend and bring it under control before it spreads so widely around the building.
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We need really to understand how it was built, how it was constructed through the exterior, because we’ve seen how the exterior burned. But we shouldn’t forget about the interior, it’s also really important."
Can tower blocks be fire-safe?published at 21:31 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Media caption,
BBC science editor David Shukman explains the role of tower block design in fire safety
Where exactly is Grenfell Tower?published at 21:29 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Our image shows its proximity to the Underground line
Sikh charity group travels from Birmingham to lend a handpublished at 21:27 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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'Plenty of room' at sports centre for those displacedpublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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May promises 'proper investigation' into firepublished at 21:17 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
The prime minister said if there were any lessons to be learnt, 'action would be taken'.
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'Look at all the good we have seen today'published at 21:11 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Image source, PA
Addressing the crowd on the steps of Notting Hill Methodist Church, Rev Mike London said: "There are times when all the words we can say are not adequate and sometimes words fail us because no words can do justice to how we feel, or what we have seen or what has happened.
"Today is one of those days.
"What we can simply do is look to all that we have seen today which is good, which is fabulous - people getting together."
Those gathered also lit candles and sang Amazing Grace.
Image source, PA
Emotional scenes as vigil held at west London churchpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Image source, Getty Images
Crowds have gathered outside Notting Hill Methodist Church, near Grenfell Tower, for a vigil.
Police have said several people are still unaccounted for.
Image source, Getty Images
High-rise living: What can you do to protect yourself from fire?published at 20:52 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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Theresa May praises 'incredible bravery' of emergency servicespublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
The prime minister added: "Once again, our emergency services - the fire service, ambulance, NHS and police - have shown incredible bravery, working in truly appalling conditions.
"Their work will continue for some time, and I know everybody will want to join me in thanking them for their amazing bravery.
"Many people will be working around the clock in the NHS to treat those who have been injured, and working elsewhere to provide help and support to those who have no home to return to."
Flats still on fire 19 hours onpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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PM: Investigation will take place once recovery is completepublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Image source, Sky pool
Prime Minister Theresa May has been making a statement on the fire.
"Once the recovery is complete an investigation will take place," she said.
"Until then our focus must be on ensuring that the emergency services have what they need to carry on with their harrowing work."
She said her thoughts were with those who were affected by this "appalling tragedy".
"It’s impossible to comprehend the horror of what they have been going through," she went on.
The PM praised those in the community nearby who have helped others and the "fantastic spirit of London".
Prayers said and candles lit outside Notting Hill Methodist Churchpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Just a short distance from the tower block
Image source, Getty Images
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London mayor 'working closely' with ministers on fire responsepublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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Latest pictures from the scenepublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The ambulance service said 68 patients had been taken to six hospitals across London
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
Firefighters will be working through the night, the London Fire Brigade has said
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
There are still "pockets of fire" yet to be extinguished, the fire service said earlier
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Donations of clothing for those affected have been left outside Latymer Community Church in west London
There will be a proper investigation - Theresa Maypublished at 20:25 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Breaking
Prime Minister Theresa May says there will be a "proper investigation" into the Grenfell Tower blaze.
"If there are any lessons to be learned they will be, and action will be taken," she says.
Key information for those affectedpublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
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'High rise buildings are not inherently dangerous'published at 20:13 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
BBC News Channel
A bit more from former planning officer Peter Rees. He says he'll be going to bed on the 27th floor of a block in the City of London tonight and will "sleep soundly" because "high rise buildings are not inherently dangerous".
Tower didn't collapse due to 'concrete core'published at 20:11 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
BBC News Channel
One of the early fears was that the blaze at the Grenfell Tower would cause it to collapse.
Peter Rees, former planning officer at the City of London, says construction methods mean most buildings are able to resist intense fires.
Quote Message
If you have a building which has a concrete core which a good building should have, because that concrete shaft in the middle protects those who are escaping via the stairs from the fire around them. It also reinforces the building and it allows it to stand."
Image source, PA
'Endemic fire safety problem in this type of housing stock'published at 20:10 British Summer Time 14 June 2017
Hannah Mansell, chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and spokesperson for the British Woodworking Federation's Fire Door Safety Week campaign, said people had "a right to be very angry at the news about Grenfell Tower".
"I regularly sit in meetings with fire safety professionals, and their fury and frustration at the inaction of local councils and social landlords is palpable," she said.
“There is an endemic fire safety problem in this type of housing stock. I have walked around tower blocks documenting and filming the fire safety breaches.
"I’ve seen flats without fire doors, no emergency lighting or signage on fire doors and escape routes, broken fire rated glass, wedged-open fire doors, poor fire stopping around service hatches that breach compartmentation, no smoke seals in fire doors, rubbish and combustible material left in the common areas, and no information displayed on the specific fire plan of the building.
“But that information appears to fall on deaf ears. Action must be taken now to address these issues."