The Grenfell Tower disaster has proved to be an extremely challenging test for Theresa May and her government as it struggles to respond to a tragedy that has affected hundreds of people.
People who are traumatised and grief-stricken, who have lost their homes and all their belongings or who are searching for missing relatives, are looking to the government and various agencies to help them at this dreadful time.
Understandably, there is considerable anger at the failure to heed repeated warnings over fire safety as well as the lack of coordination of the relief effort and the dearth of information about those who sadly lost their lives.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that 30 people died in the fire which spread with frightening speed through the 24-story block but there are believed to be at least 70 people missing with some reports suggesting the final toll could be in triple figures.
In a number of respects, this is a catastrophe like no other experienced in recent British history.
There has been appalling loss of life along with a difficult and painstaking recovery process.
Then there are the many people who have been left homeless leaving the local authority with the task of finding them suitable accommodation as a matter of urgency.
These include the survivors of the inferno but also people living nearby who are unable to access their homes.
The incredible outpouring of support in terms of food, clothes and cash donations to those left with nothing has been heartening but criticism has been directed at the council for failing to step in and take charge.
Admittedly this is a horrendous incident on an unprecedented scale but it also seems the authorities were slow to take full control in a coordinated way, deepening the frustration of the survivors.
Crowds of protesters outside Kensington town hall yesterday showed that this sense of anger was intensifying as people demanded answers about how the tragedy happened and called for information about missing friends and family.
On Thursday, when Mrs May first went to the scene to meet the emergency services she was wrong not to meet residents at that early stage.
This would have shown leadership and empathy and may have lessoned the hostility she received yesterday when she visited.
The announcement of a £5 million fund for residents yesterday was welcome but overall the government looks slow and cumbersome as it deals with an unprecedented crisis.
Mrs May needs to take a grip of this dreadful situation and ensure the authorities show they are listening to residents, survivors and the bereaved.
