London tower fire: Toll rises to 12 as police warn more deaths expected

The death toll in a blaze that engulfed a 24-storey housing block in central London, trapping residents as they slept, has risen to at least 12 people and is expected to increase, police say.

Key points:

• 68 people in hospital, 18 in critical condition
• Fire still burning 16 hours after it started
• Building had recently undergone major refurbishment
• Authorities say too early to determine cause of blaze

More than 200 firefighters, backed up by 40 fire engines, fought for hours to try to control the fire, London’s deadliest in a generation.

More than 16 hours after the fire started, crews were still trying to douse flames.

London police commander Stuart Cundy told reporters he did not believe further survivors would be found in the building.

Mr Cundy warned the death toll was likely to rise “during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days”.

Source: London tower fire: Toll rises to 12 as police warn more deaths expected – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)