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London fire: A visual guide to what happened at Grenfell Tower | London fire: A visual guide to what happened at Grenfell Tower |
(1 day later) | |
Seventy-nine people are believed to have died after a huge fire engulfed a west London tower block. | |
While some residents of Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey building in north Kensington, escaped as the fire took hold on 14 June, others were trapped inside, eyewitnesses said. A number of injured remain in hospital and emergency services have begun the search for bodies. | While some residents of Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey building in north Kensington, escaped as the fire took hold on 14 June, others were trapped inside, eyewitnesses said. A number of injured remain in hospital and emergency services have begun the search for bodies. |
Here's a visual guide to what happened that night. | Here's a visual guide to what happened that night. |
The blaze took hold quickly | The blaze took hold quickly |
Emergency services were called to the fire at the block of flats in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea just before 01:00 BST on Wednesday 14 June. It is believed to have started on the fourth floor and spread quickly. | Emergency services were called to the fire at the block of flats in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea just before 01:00 BST on Wednesday 14 June. It is believed to have started on the fourth floor and spread quickly. |
A total of 65 people were rescued from the building by firefighters. | A total of 65 people were rescued from the building by firefighters. |
The blaze was not under control until 01:14 BST on Thursday - 24 hours later. | The blaze was not under control until 01:14 BST on Thursday - 24 hours later. |
The building was left in ruin | The building was left in ruin |
The tower, part of the Lancaster West Estate, a social housing complex of almost 1,000 homes in West London, was left extensively damaged. | The tower, part of the Lancaster West Estate, a social housing complex of almost 1,000 homes in West London, was left extensively damaged. |
All four facades were affected. | All four facades were affected. |
Emergency services are continuing the search for bodies, but the aftermath is so devastating police have said some victims may never be identified. | Emergency services are continuing the search for bodies, but the aftermath is so devastating police have said some victims may never be identified. |
People have been leaving hand-written messages on a wall of condolence. | People have been leaving hand-written messages on a wall of condolence. |
Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the blaze, while police have launched a criminal investigation. | Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the blaze, while police have launched a criminal investigation. |
The tower was built in the 1970s, but recently renovated | The tower was built in the 1970s, but recently renovated |
Grenfell Tower was built in 1974 by Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council. | Grenfell Tower was built in 1974 by Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council. |
An £8.6m refurbishment - part of a wider transformation of the estate - was completed by Rydon Construction in May last year. Work included new exterior cladding, replacement windows and a communal heating system. | An £8.6m refurbishment - part of a wider transformation of the estate - was completed by Rydon Construction in May last year. Work included new exterior cladding, replacement windows and a communal heating system. |
The bottom four floors were also remodelled, creating seven additional homes and improvements to communal facilities. | The bottom four floors were also remodelled, creating seven additional homes and improvements to communal facilities. |
There are now 127 flats across 21 residential floors and three levels of mixed use. | There are now 127 flats across 21 residential floors and three levels of mixed use. |
The tower is managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) on behalf of the council. | The tower is managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) on behalf of the council. |
Newly-installed cladding is being scrutinised | Newly-installed cladding is being scrutinised |
Fire safety experts have pointed to cladding on the building as a possible reason the blaze spread so quickly. | Fire safety experts have pointed to cladding on the building as a possible reason the blaze spread so quickly. |
Footage has shown the fire travelling up one side of the building, before engulfing the entire block. | Footage has shown the fire travelling up one side of the building, before engulfing the entire block. |
New cladding was fitted as part of a £8.6m refurbishment of the tower, completed in May last year. | New cladding was fitted as part of a £8.6m refurbishment of the tower, completed in May last year. |
The cladding had a metal outer coating and an expanded foam interior. This polyethylene - or plastic - core is less fireproof than other alternatives. | The cladding had a metal outer coating and an expanded foam interior. This polyethylene - or plastic - core is less fireproof than other alternatives. |
However, even this type of cladding - when properly fitted and with its polyethylene insulation expertly encapsulated - should resist fire, the Fire Protection Association (FPA), the UK's national fire safety organisation, said. | However, even this type of cladding - when properly fitted and with its polyethylene insulation expertly encapsulated - should resist fire, the Fire Protection Association (FPA), the UK's national fire safety organisation, said. |
Some exterior cladding can create cavities which, in some cases, can cause what's known as "a chimney effect", drawing flames up the cavity if there are no fire barriers. | Some exterior cladding can create cavities which, in some cases, can cause what's known as "a chimney effect", drawing flames up the cavity if there are no fire barriers. |
Ray Bailey, managing director at Harley Facades Limited, which installed the cladding, said: "At this time, we are not aware of any link between the fire and the exterior cladding to the tower." | Ray Bailey, managing director at Harley Facades Limited, which installed the cladding, said: "At this time, we are not aware of any link between the fire and the exterior cladding to the tower." |
Rydon, the contractor responsible for the renovation of the tower, said its work "met all required building control, fire regulation, and health and safety standards". | Rydon, the contractor responsible for the renovation of the tower, said its work "met all required building control, fire regulation, and health and safety standards". |
It later issued a new statement, removing the previous mention of the building meeting fire regulation standards, instead saying the project met "all required building regulations". | It later issued a new statement, removing the previous mention of the building meeting fire regulation standards, instead saying the project met "all required building regulations". |
The tower is in an area with a big gap between rich and poor | The tower is in an area with a big gap between rich and poor |
In the aftermath of the fire, residents told the BBC how they felt ignored by the authorities and pushed out by affluent outsiders. | In the aftermath of the fire, residents told the BBC how they felt ignored by the authorities and pushed out by affluent outsiders. |
On Friday, anger over the response to the disaster led to a protest at the town hall in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. | On Friday, anger over the response to the disaster led to a protest at the town hall in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. |
The borough is one of the richest in the country. The average salary is £123,000: the highest in the UK. | The borough is one of the richest in the country. The average salary is £123,000: the highest in the UK. |
But the median average - the midpoint of all salaries in the area - is £32,700. No other local authority in the country has such a large gap between these two averages, pointing to a huge contrast between high and low earners. | But the median average - the midpoint of all salaries in the area - is £32,700. No other local authority in the country has such a large gap between these two averages, pointing to a huge contrast between high and low earners. |
There is a similarly large gap when measuring the total income for people in the area. The average is £158,000, but the median is £38,700. Again, no other local authority in the UK reports such a difference. | There is a similarly large gap when measuring the total income for people in the area. The average is £158,000, but the median is £38,700. Again, no other local authority in the UK reports such a difference. |
Data sources: Department for Communities and Local Government, the Office for National Statistics, and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. | Data sources: Department for Communities and Local Government, the Office for National Statistics, and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. |