Fire broke out at Grenfell Tower block shortly before 1am
The block of flats, near Notting Hill, west London, is at least 24 storeys high and contains 120 apartments. The fire, which started at 12.54am, is said to have engulfed the entire block, affecting all 24 floors.
Emergency services rushed to the scene
London ambulance service said they were called at 1.29am and 20 crews raced to the scene. Firefighters arrived within six minutes. Two hundred firefighters were at the scene along with 40 engines and a range of specialist vehicles, including 14 fire rescue vehicles.
How many people were affected by the fire?
Police have confirmed 12 people are dead, and they expect this figure to rise. There were multiple reports from witnesses of people trapped in the blaze. Seventy-four people have been taken to five London hospitals.
Apartments in the area have been evacuated
Falling debris has caused a number of flats in the area to be evacuated. Transport for London says there is no service on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road. The A40 Westway has been closed in both directions.
What do we know about the building?
The tower block was built in the 1970s as part of the Lancaster West Estate project. It recently underwent a £10m refurbishment, which included installing exterior cladding, double glazing and a new communal heating system. Plans for the redevelopment also show the single stairwell.
A resident group said on Wednesday morning that it repeatedly warned of a fire risk at Grenfell Tower and claimed a major fire was narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013.
The Grenfell Action Group said its concerns were dismissed by Kensington and Chelsea council, which owns the block, and and the local tenant management organisation [KCTMO], which runs the borough’s homes.
Some of the key questions being asked focus on the cladding that was added to the building as part of the recent refurbishment.