A FIRE in a block of flats left six people dead, including three children, emergency services in London said last night.
The blaze, in Havil Street, Camberwell, south London, began on the four floor of the 12-storey block yesterday afternoon and “spread rapidly” to the 11th floor, according to the fire brigade.
A woman, a three-week-old baby and a seven-year-old child were among the victims.
Eighteen fire engines were sent to the scene and more than 100 firefighters tackled the fire, the London fire brigade said.
A spokesman said the fire had spread quickly from the fourth to the 11th floor. “Thirty people were rescued – these 30 people were in immediate peril and were evacuated from the building.”
Unharmed survivors were taken to an emergency centre in a nearby church hall set up by Southwark council and the British Red Cross, while the injured were taken to three London hospitals.
There had been fears that dozens of residents might be trapped on the upper storeys of the building, but the spokesman said firefighters believed they had rescued everyone and the blaze had been brought under control.
“The building is still being searched, but we are confident there won’t be any more people involved. We’re doing a systematic floor by floor search,” the spokesman said.
He said it was too soon to say what caused the fire but a specialist team had begun an investigation.
Witness George Maddocks said he had seen a room of one of the flats engulfed by flames before windows began to shatter. “I think the height may have been something of a problem,” he told BBC TV, adding that much of the building was charred and blackened.
Michael Thompson, (17), who lives in the tower block, said: “There was a big bang that sounded like an explosion.
“People were screaming. I heard people shouting ‘Fire, fire’.
“I called 999 when I saw the flames and they said they were already on their way. I could smell the smoke from inside my flat so I closed the windows.
“This black smoke was pouring out of the windows.”
– (Reuters/PA)