AFTER THE INFERNO
London fire – First haunting video from inside the scene of deadly tower blaze shows piles of ash-covered debris, a maze of firefighters’ hoses, huge puddles of water and a dead body
A HAUNTING view from the scene of the deadly tower inferno has emerged in a video which shows piles of ash-covered debris, huge puddles of water and a dead body.
Blackened hand prints can be seen on stairwell walls where desperate Grenfell Tower residents fought their way through smoke in a bid to escape.
Although it is unclear exactly where the footage shows, it appears to include video from a block adjacent to Grenfell Tower, which is thought to be connected by an underground passageway.
The shocking video gives an insight into the true devastation as emergency crews “fear more than 100 people could have died” in the inferno.
Water can be seen running down stairs and through the hallways leaving huge puddles after brave firefighters worked through the night to put out the flames.
Mangled wreckage also lies next to burnt-out possessions destroyed in the blaze.
Fire chief Dany Cotton said they are not expecting to find any survivors after the fire tore through the tower block.
She revealed it would “be a miracle” to pull anyone out alive – as the official death toll reached 17.
Harrowing first pictures from inside the gutted building emerged today revealing blown out windows, table burnt to its shell, washing machines charred and a blackened fridge freezer.
There are also still pockets of fire coming from the smouldering shell of the charred tower block - but fire officials have said the blaze is officially out.
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Dad of four Hassan Kaissi says he came face-to-face with body bags labelled "dead" as he helped try to find friends stuck inside the flooded tower.
He said: “I saw the doorway to Grenfell Towers open so I went into the building. People were screaming everywhere.
“I went to climb the stairs but a fireman told me not to, that he’d just have to rescue me too, so I didn’t go in.
“Two minutes later a piece of debris fell exactly where I was standing.
“I went into the building beside Grenfell Towers on Clarendon Walk and there was a dead body in the entrance.
“All of the firemen were saying that they’d never seen anything like it before."
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What we know so far:
- A huge fire engulfed 24-storey Grenfell Tower in West London just before 1am on Wednesday night
- Seventeen deaths have been confirmed but the death toll is feared to be more than 100 - with many people still missing
- The first victim has been named as Syrian refugee Mohammed Al Haj Ali, 23
- The Prime Minister has promised a full public inquiry into the disaster and police have launched a criminal investigation
- The blaze is thought to have been sparked by a faulty fridge
- Experts warned the blaze was spread by cladding panels which are fitted to countless buildings across Britain
- Residents were seen jumping from upper floors in scenes reminiscent of September 11
- Horrified witnesses told of babies being thrown from windows by desperate mothers
- It was revealed the block had only recently undergone a £10million refurb but still had no sprinkler system installed
- Designers insisted the refurbishment work complied with building regulations
- Residents raised safety concerns four years ago, but were ignored
- A former housing minister was blasted for postponing a government review into tower block safety
- Celebrities and ordinary Londoners have united to provide food, clothes, money and shelter for survivors
Survivors have told how they stumbled over bodies as they desperately fought their way through black smoke to escape down the stairwell.
It is believed virtually all the residents in the top three floors perished in the devastating fire, which burned at over 1,000C (1,800F).
The death stands at 17 but is expected to rise. A further 74 victims, 18 of them critical, are being treated at six hospitals.
London Fire Brigade Commander Dany Cotton said this morning: "Tragically, now, we are not expecting to find anyone else alive.
"The severity and the heat of the fire will mean it would be an absolute miracle for anyone to be left alive."
Heartbroken relatives are desperately searching for missing loved ones as the death toll continues to rise.
Harrowing stories have emerged of families separated as they fled the horror blaze and terrified residents saying their goodbyes over the phone as flames engulfed the building.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Text GREN88 and amount you wish to donate to 70070, eg GREN88 £5 (you can donate £5 or £10)
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