Massive fire engulfs London high-rise: ‘A number of fatalities’ and 30 injured

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  Flames engulf the 27-storey block of flats in west London. Giulio Thuburn / AFP

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  Smoke and flames rise from the building on fire in London. The fire is thought to have started at 1am London time. Matt Dunham / AP Photo

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  A person peers out of a window from a building on fire in London on June 14, 2017. Matt Dunham / AP Photo

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  The A40 road is seen closed as flames and smoke billow as firefighters deal with the fire. Toby Melville / Reuters

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  Firefighters tackle the fire in Latimer Road in West London. Toby Melville / Reuters

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  Much of the fire had been cleared as daylight broke through. Matt Dunham / AP Photo

LONDON // Firefighters were battling a massive fire in a London apartment high-rise early on Wednesday morning. Forty-five fire engines and 200 firefighters were called to the scene.

The London Fire Brigade tweeted that the fire involved the second to the top floor of the 27-story building. Thirty people were taken to five hospitals, according to the London Ambulance Service. “A number” of people have been killed London Fire Brigade chief Dany Cotton told reporters at the scene.

“There have been a number of fatalities. I cannot confirm the number at this time due to the size and complexity of the building,” Cotton said.

The fire started at about 1am London time and spread quickly through the building.

The building is the Grenfell Tower in the North Kensington area.

Assistant Commissioner Dan Daly said on the London Fire Brigade’s Facebook page that firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle the fire.

George Clarke, the TV presenter of Amazing Spaces, told Radio 5 Live he was covered in ash even though he was 100 metres from the scene.

He said he saw people waving flashlights from the top levels of the building and saw rescuers “doing an incredible job” trying to get people out.

Nassima Boutrig, who lives opposite the building, said she was awakened by sirens and smoke so thick that it filled her home as well.

“We saw the people screaming,” she said. “A lot of people said `Help, help, help.’ The fire brigade could only help downstairs. It was fire up, up, up. They couldn’t stop the fire.”

Ms Boutrig said her friend’s brother, wife and children lived in the building and that her friend was waiting to find out if they were OK.

Tim Downie, who lives not far away, told Britain’s Press Association that he feared the building could collapse. He said he heard sirens, helicopters and shouting and then saw the building engulfed in flames.

“It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen. I just hope they have got everyone out,” he said. “People have been bringing water, clothes, anything they’ve got to help, out to the cordon.”

* Associated Press