UK

Grenfell Tower fire: 79 people are dead or missing presumed dead

creengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London
creengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London creengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London

The number of people dead and missing presumed dead after the Grenfell Tower disaster has risen to 79, Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said. 

Five of those 79 people have so far been formally identified, Commander Cundy added. 

He told reporters the "awful reality" was that it might not be possible to identify all the victims.

Some families have lost more than one member in the blaze which broke out early last Wednesday morning in the west London tower block, he added.

Three victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster have been named by the Metropolitan Police as Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye (24), also known as Khadija Saye, 65-year-old Anthony Disson and Abufars Ibrahim (39).

The announcement came ahead of a minute's silence to be held at 11am across all British government buildings to remember the people who lost their lives and all those affected by the fire in north Kensington last week.

Screengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London
Screengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London Screengrab taken from video issued by the Metropolitan Police of footage inside Grenfell Tower in west London

NHS England said 17 people are still being treated in London hospitals, of whom nine remain in critical care.

Six critical care patients are being treated at King's College Hospital.

Mr Cundy said the death toll may still change, but not as significantly as it has in recent days.

He fought back tears as he told reporters about the scene inside the 24-storey tower in north Kensington.

Footage from inside the gutted building has been released, showing the extent of the damage caused by the blaze.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Mr Cundy added: "I have investigated major crime for most of my service and I have seen some terrible things. But I don't think anything prepared me for what I was going to see when I was in there.

"It's hard to describe my feelings, because I cannot imagine, and I would not want to put myself in the position of those families who have lost their loved ones.

"But being with colleagues from the London Fire Brigade when I was in there, colleagues from the London Ambulance Service and other police officers, I think it's fair to say it is incredibly emotional working in there.

"But we will do it with our utmost professionalism and we will do everything we can as quickly as we can to locate everybody who is in there."

The news came as the government announced those left homeless by the fire will be given at least £5,500 from an emergency fund – £500 in cash followed by a bank payment for the rest from Monday

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted the government was doing everything possible to help those caught up in the tragedy.

People walk past floral tributes outside Notting Hill Methodist Church, near to the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building on Wednesday morning. Picture by Jonathan Brady, PA Wire
People walk past floral tributes outside Notting Hill Methodist Church, near to the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building on Wednesday morning. Picture by Jonathan Brady, PA Wire People walk past floral tributes outside Notting Hill Methodist Church, near to the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building on Wednesday morning. Picture by Jonathan Brady, PA Wire