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Two children killed in tower fire Two children killed in tower fire
(20 minutes later)
Two children have died and 25 people remain trapped in a burning tower block in south-east London. Two children have died and about 30 people were rescued after a fire swept through a tower block in London.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said about 25 people remain inside the 12-storey Lakanal House on the Sceaux Gardens Estate in Camberwell. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said about 25 people were initially trapped in the 12-storey Lakanal House on the Sceaux Gardens Estate in Camberwell.
Firefighters using breathing apparatus managed to remove many of the residents who were in the building. Thirteen people, including the two children who died, were taken to the hospital. Three are said to be serious.
Ten people have so far been taken to hospital, while about 100 firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze. The LFB said it was searching the flats but everyone is believed to have been removed. The fire is now under control.
'Serious condition' Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the LFB Tom Chidley told BBC News that the fire had been contained.
BBC London correspondent Sarah Harris said a fire officer at the scene had confirmed that two children had died. About 100 firefighters and 18 fire engines tackled the blaze, which began at about 1620 BST.
An LFB spokesman said that the "serious" fire was believed to be in the communal areas between floors four and 11. 'Difficult circumstances'
"A number of rescues have been carried out in extremely difficult circumstances and fire crews equipped with extended duration breathing apparatus are working very hard to reach those still affected and carry out an exhaustive search of the building," he added. Mr Chidley said six children and seven adults had been taken to hospital.
A London Ambulance spokesman said: "We have treated 10 patients who have all been taken to hospital. A London Ambulance spokesman said most of them had suffered smoke inhalation.
"Seven of these are understood to have been suffering from smoke inhalation, while the other three were in a serious condition." An LFB spokesman said that the "serious" fire was believed to have started in a stairwell and spread to the communal areas between floors four and 11.
A Southwark Council spokesman said some of the removed residents had been evacuated to nearby Welton Hall. "A number of rescues have been carried out in extremely difficult circumstances," he said.
It was shocking to see the quantities of smoke and flames Eyewitness Sarah Gresty
A Southwark Council spokesman said some of the residents had been evacuated to nearby Welton Hall.
George Maddocks, who lives nearby, told BBC News: "The fire engines arrived very promptly but I think the height of the block was a problem.
"There seemed to be one window and one room ablaze when the fire brigade got there.
"Currently it is charred and blackened."
Sarah Gresty, who lives in Havil Street, said she could see a column of flames and smoke in the flats going up a number of floors.
"It was very alarming seeing it," she said. "The fire was going in quite a few flats.
"It was shocking to see the quantities of smoke and flames."
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