London Fire Brigade confirms that its crews will be at the scene of the fire throughout the night.

A spokesman says they have already managed to search most of the building and praises their "professionalism and bravery".

Commander Stuart Cundy, of the Metropolitan Police says, the number of dead will rise further, as he confirms that 12 people are now known to have lost their lives.

The police are giving an update on the number of fatalities.

The photographer who took the Evening Standard's front page image of Grenfell Tower burning, says conditions on the ground were like a 'war zone'.

BBC London News

One witness, who spoke to BBC London earlier, said Grenfell Tower residents were given instructions last weekend, by the fire brigade, on what to do in the event of a fire

The woman added: "If I had listened to the advice given to me by the fire brigade and also by the TMO [Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation] management team, we could be dead."

Transport for London is advising commuters to allow extra time for their journeys, as buses serving West London are still on diversion.

Bus passes are being accepted in Zones 1 and 2 on the London Underground.

In its latest statement, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation says it is "too early to speculate what caused the fire and contributed to its spread".

It goes on: "We are aware that concerns have been raised historically by residents.

"We always take all concerns seriously and these will form part of our forthcoming investigations. While these investigations continue with our co-operation, our core priority at the moment is our residents."

Image source, AFP

Eighteen people are currently in critical care in hospitals in London following the Grenfell Tower blaze, London Ambulance Service says.

Director of Operations Paul Woodrow said in a statement that 68 patients were treated for "a range of injuries, as well as for smoke inhalation".

"Over 100 of our clinicians have worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances to care for those who were injured. This has been a protracted and large-scale incident over many hours," he said.

"We initially sent ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, advanced trauma teams from London's Air Ambulance, as well as our hazardous area response teams who carry specialist equipment including breathing apparatus.

"I am incredibly proud and grateful for the work of our staff and our emergency service colleagues and partner agencies."

Tom Symonds
Home Affairs Correspondent

A residents' group warned in November last year that a "catastrophic event" would vindicate their concerns about fire safety at Grenfell Tower

The Grenfell Action Group has repeatedly blogged about its concerns about the management of the building, access for emergency vehicles and power surges which have damaged residents' electrical devices.

The running of Grenfell Tower was handed over the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation in the mid 1990s. In 2015, there was a small fire at Adair Tower nearby - also run by the management organisation.

Afterwards, the London Fire Brigade issued an enforcement notice listing a string of failures in managing the risk of a fire and the response should one break out. The brigade also said both escape routes and emergency plans were inadequate.

It was one of several times in recent years the managers had been told to improve fire safety.

But the leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council Nick Paget Brown insisted the issue had not been neglected.

"There's always concerns about high-rise buildings and what the fire procedures are, and what the fire regulations require. The blocks are regularly inspected. The organisation which runs the council's housing stock, the tenant management organisation, will commission regular inspections, and clearly there will need to be a thorough investigation into what the cause of the fire was, and why it appears to have spread so rapidly."

Len Duvall, Leader of the London Assembly Labour Group, says the fire was "truly tragic" and expressed his sorrow to those affected.

"Right now we need for people to be patient. The focus has to be on the rescue and recovery operation, and later there will be the necessary questions to be answered on the causes behind this tragedy.

“We are very grateful for the way in which the fire and other emergencies services have responded to this event. Their bravery and professionalism is outstanding.”

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

The family of 12-year-old Jessica Urbano says she is still missing after the Grenfell Tower blaze. She was on the 20th floor when she was separated from her family.

The last time the teenager spoke with her mother was when she borrowed a phone to say that she was on the stairs with other people, her aunt said.

"We then have had unconfirmed reports/sightings of her outside of the flats and also being put into an ambulance, but we have checked hospitals and no news," Ana Ospina told Press Association.

Anyone with concerns or information about people should call 0800 0961 233.

There must be a "full inquiry" into the Grenfell Tower fire, newly elected MP Emma Dent Coad told the BBC.

The Labour MP took the Kensington seat in last week's general election.

Speaking outside the Rugby Portobello Trust emergency centre, she said the fire was "absolutely appalling".

"The ferocity of that fire was extraordinary and terrifying," she said. "This must never happen again."

She praised the emergency service response but said questions must be asked about the Kensington and Chelsea's Tenant Management Organisation and the council's coordination of a response.

Some 45 fire engines and around 250 firefighters and officers attended the Grenfell Tower blaze in the early hours of Wednesday morning - and teams are still battling to extinguish it.

Over 450 emergency service staff have been in attendance - many of whom will have responded to the London Bridge terror attack under two weeks ago.

The Fire Brigades Union said: "They will be doing a particularly difficult job witnessing brutal and tragic scenes with the professionalism we have come to expect from them."

Image source, AFP/Getty

Image source, EPA

Image source, AFP/Getty

Image source, EPA

Grenfell Tower residents warned "only a catastrophic event" would improve living conditions.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4