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Tower block blaze victims named Tower block blaze victims named
(about 1 hour later)
Police have named five of the six victims killed in a fire at a tower block in south-east London.Police have named five of the six victims killed in a fire at a tower block in south-east London.
Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle died following the fire which broke out at the 12-storey Lakanal Estate in Camberwell.Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle died following the fire which broke out at the 12-storey Lakanal Estate in Camberwell.
The other three named are Dayana Francisquini, 26, Filipe Francisquini, 3, and Catherine Hickman, 31. The sixth person remains unidentified.The other three named are Dayana Francisquini, 26, Filipe Francisquini, 3, and Catherine Hickman, 31. The sixth person remains unidentified.
Police are treating Friday's fire as suspicious until a cause is determined.Police are treating Friday's fire as suspicious until a cause is determined.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the sixth victim was believed to be a four-year-old girl.A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the sixth victim was believed to be a four-year-old girl.
A firefighter remains in hospital, though police said his condition was not thought to be serious.
Safety questionsSafety questions
I heard a woman screaming on the floor below. She had two babies and the smoke was like a chimney Charles DouglasResidentI heard a woman screaming on the floor below. She had two babies and the smoke was like a chimney Charles DouglasResident
The Met's Chief Supt Wayne Chance said: "The one further victim of this tragic incident is still to be identified. The Met's Chief Supt Wayne Chance said that two of the named victims had not been formally identified, but that police were confident enough of who they were, to name them as Helen Udoaka and Catherine Hickman.
"This is proving slightly more difficult as the bodies of the last three casualties still remain in the housing block." Those two bodies, along with the unidentified sixth victim, remained in the housing block, he added.
The identification of five of the victims came as attention focused on whether escape routes and fire prevention measures were adequate at the building, which had a single central staircase. The naming of five of the victims came as attention focused on whether escape routes and fire prevention measures were adequate at the building, which had a single central staircase.
Several residents said the complicated layout of the flats made the evacuation difficult while onlookers described seeing those trapped inside screaming for help.Several residents said the complicated layout of the flats made the evacuation difficult while onlookers described seeing those trapped inside screaming for help.
Residents have not been allowed back into the buildingResidents have not been allowed back into the building
About 30 people had to be rescued from the building as the fire spread. Another 120 were evacuated.About 30 people had to be rescued from the building as the fire spread. Another 120 were evacuated.
London Fire Bridge (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said investigators were "reasonably confident" the fire, which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters, started on the ninth floor.London Fire Bridge (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said investigators were "reasonably confident" the fire, which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters, started on the ninth floor.
All those who died were on the 11th floor, police said.All those who died were on the 11th floor, police said.
Mr Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost".Mr Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost".
He said the corridor on the 11th floor where the three bodies were discovered was "very, very significantly damaged".He said the corridor on the 11th floor where the three bodies were discovered was "very, very significantly damaged".
He added it had been an "extremely hot fire" and crews were suffering from heat exhaustion.He added it had been an "extremely hot fire" and crews were suffering from heat exhaustion.
The Met said it was still too early to say how the fire started and that officers were working with the LFB's investigation team to establish the cause.The Met said it was still too early to say how the fire started and that officers were working with the LFB's investigation team to establish the cause.
'Seems suspicious''Seems suspicious'
London mayor Boris Johnson described the fire as an "horrendous incident".London mayor Boris Johnson described the fire as an "horrendous incident".
He said what people would want to know was if there was "any intent" behind the cause of the blaze.He said what people would want to know was if there was "any intent" behind the cause of the blaze.
"It does seem suspicious that the fire was spreading so quickly and clearly that will be one of the prime subjects for the investigation," he said."It does seem suspicious that the fire was spreading so quickly and clearly that will be one of the prime subjects for the investigation," he said.
"Obviously we will want to know whether... the fire was set, whether there was any malign intent.""Obviously we will want to know whether... the fire was set, whether there was any malign intent."
Nick Collins, Fire Brigade: "We're reasonably confident it started on the ninth floor"Nick Collins, Fire Brigade: "We're reasonably confident it started on the ninth floor"
There would also be an investigation into whether there were any "design failures" in the building, he said.There would also be an investigation into whether there were any "design failures" in the building, he said.
Resident Charles Douglas, 56, was trapped in the building when the fire took hold.Resident Charles Douglas, 56, was trapped in the building when the fire took hold.
He said: "It was pandemonium.He said: "It was pandemonium.
"I heard a woman screaming on the floor below. She had two babies and the smoke was like a chimney."I heard a woman screaming on the floor below. She had two babies and the smoke was like a chimney.
"She wanted to jump but I told her to stay there otherwise they would have killed themselves.""She wanted to jump but I told her to stay there otherwise they would have killed themselves."
Lincent Johnson, 48, who lives across the road, said he could smell the fire from his house.Lincent Johnson, 48, who lives across the road, said he could smell the fire from his house.
"When I came out I could see people screaming through the windows, waiting to get out," he said."When I came out I could see people screaming through the windows, waiting to get out," he said.
"It started as a small fire but it seemed to spread within minutes.""It started as a small fire but it seemed to spread within minutes."