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| Safety questions after flat fire | Safety questions after flat fire |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Questions are being raised about the design of a south London block of flats after a fire which killed six people. | Questions are being raised about the design of a south London block of flats after a fire which killed six people. |
| Officials are examining escape routes and fire prevention measures at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell. | Officials are examining escape routes and fire prevention measures at the 12-storey Lakanal House in Camberwell. |
| The area's MP, Harriet Harman, said people were "asking questions" about the safety of the building, which has a single central staircase. | The area's MP, Harriet Harman, said people were "asking questions" about the safety of the building, which has a single central staircase. |
| Fire officers said that while the building design was common, the rapid way the fire had spread was unusual. | Fire officers said that while the building design was common, the rapid way the fire had spread was unusual. |
| The victims have been named as Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle, Dayana Francisquini, 26, Filipe Francisquini, three, and Catherine Hickman, 31. | The victims have been named as Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter Michelle, Dayana Francisquini, 26, Filipe Francisquini, three, and Catherine Hickman, 31. |
| The sixth victim is believed to be a four-year-old girl, but has not yet been named. | The sixth victim is believed to be a four-year-old girl, but has not yet been named. |
| A firefighter remains in hospital, though police said his condition was not thought to be serious. | A firefighter remains in hospital, though police said his condition was not thought to be serious. |
| 'Locked' in bathroom | 'Locked' in bathroom |
| Ms Harman said there would "have to be a thorough investigation into what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate". | Ms Harman said there would "have to be a thorough investigation into what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate". |
| Harriet Harman: "There will be a full investigation" | Harriet Harman: "There will be a full investigation" |
| "There are many blocks with one central stairwell and questions will have to be asked about what happens when a fire breaks out," she said. | "There are many blocks with one central stairwell and questions will have to be asked about what happens when a fire breaks out," she said. |
| One of the victims, Dayana Francisquini, had locked herself and her two children in their bathroom in a bid to survive, her husband Rafael Cervi, 31, told the Sunday Telegraph. | One of the victims, Dayana Francisquini, had locked herself and her two children in their bathroom in a bid to survive, her husband Rafael Cervi, 31, told the Sunday Telegraph. |
| The hotel porter from Brazil was at work when he heard the building was on fire. | The hotel porter from Brazil was at work when he heard the building was on fire. |
| He said the last words he heard from his wife were in a phone call during the blaze when she told him: "I can't breathe very well. I'm struggling to breathe and Felipe's really scared." | He said the last words he heard from his wife were in a phone call during the blaze when she told him: "I can't breathe very well. I'm struggling to breathe and Felipe's really scared." |
| Mr Cervi told the newspaper: "They were what I lived for. Now everything is gone and I have nothing." | Mr Cervi told the newspaper: "They were what I lived for. Now everything is gone and I have nothing." |
| Tower blocks such as Lakanal House had been designed so that fire did not rapidly spread, said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. | Tower blocks such as Lakanal House had been designed so that fire did not rapidly spread, said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. |
| "In buildings such as this one you should be safe for an hour before fire jumps from floor to floor," he told Sky News. | "In buildings such as this one you should be safe for an hour before fire jumps from floor to floor," he told Sky News. |
| "That wasn't the case in these circumstances and I think we need to know why the fire spread so quickly and jumped between floors in such a short space of time." | "That wasn't the case in these circumstances and I think we need to know why the fire spread so quickly and jumped between floors in such a short space of time." |
| 'Complex inquiry' | 'Complex inquiry' |
| Onlookers had reported seeing people trapped inside shouting for help. | Onlookers had reported seeing people trapped inside shouting for help. |
| And one resident said the layout of the maisonettes was like "a maze" - making evacuation difficult. | And one resident said the layout of the maisonettes was like "a maze" - making evacuation difficult. |
| The Metropolitan Police said the fire began in a flat on the ninth floor, but that all those who died were on the 11th floor, with other floors also affected. | The Metropolitan Police said the fire began in a flat on the ninth floor, but that all those who died were on the 11th floor, with other floors also affected. |
| "It's a very complex, very large inquiry," Chief Supt Wayne Chance said. | "It's a very complex, very large inquiry," Chief Supt Wayne Chance said. |
| London mayor Boris Johnson described the fire on the Sceaux Gardens Estate as a "horrendous incident". | London mayor Boris Johnson described the fire on the Sceaux Gardens Estate as a "horrendous incident". |
| "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." |
| 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. |
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| Eyewitness footage of Camberwell fire | Eyewitness footage of Camberwell fire |
| 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 Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost". | London Fire Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner Nick Collins said it was "one of the most significant fires in some time in terms of lives lost". |
| Listed building | Listed building |
| More than 100 firefighters tackled the incident, some of who suffered from heat exhaustion, he added. | More than 100 firefighters tackled the incident, some of who suffered from heat exhaustion, he added. |
| Resident Carol Cooper, 38, who lives on the seventh floor, described "seeing people and children waving for help". | Resident Carol Cooper, 38, who lives on the seventh floor, described "seeing people and children waving for help". |
| She added that the tenants had called for the block to be demolished two or three years ago - but had been told it was a listed building, and had to be preserved. | She added that the tenants had called for the block to be demolished two or three years ago - but had been told it was a listed building, and had to be preserved. |
| Southwark council's executive member for housing, Kim Humphries, said the tower block had undergone a £3m refurbishment programme two years ago. | Southwark council's executive member for housing, Kim Humphries, said the tower block had undergone a £3m refurbishment programme two years ago. |
| This is understood to have included fitting new windows and electrical cabling. | This is understood to have included fitting new windows and electrical cabling. |
| Do you live near Lakanal House in Camberwell? Did you see what happened? Tell us your experiences using the form below. | Do you live near Lakanal House in Camberwell? Did you see what happened? Tell us your experiences using the form below. |
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