Over 200 firefighters are responding to a blaze in Dagenham, east London, and two people have been taken to hospital.
A “significant search and rescue operation” is under way as more than 100 people, including children, have been evacuated.
The London Fire Brigade said the building, which they described as a mixed-use residential and commercial building, was known to have “a number of fire safety issues”.
Image: Firefighters tackling the blaze overnight. Pic: UKNIP
Image: Pic: UKNIP
A planning application from 2023 shows that the building was covered in “non-compliant” cladding.
The scaffolding surrounding the building was in place to remove the cladding on the fifth and sixth floors when the fire broke out.
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky as 40 fire engines and 225 firefighters responded.
Emergency services were called around 2.44am and the first crews arrived at the tower block within five minutes.
Four patients were treated at the scene, and two were taken to hospital, the London Ambulance Service said.
The entire building was affected by the fire, including the scaffolding surrounding it and the roof.
The cause of the fire remains unknown but a major incident has been declared.
Image: Pic: UKNIP
Dinesh Raj’s daughter was at a sleepover in the building with a friend, when the blaze broke out.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Raj said: “I got a call around 3am, so I came and picked them up.
“I managed to take my daughter and my friends to my home. They’re all safe.
“I think they started smelling smoke around 3am, and learned there was a fire.
“They had a six-month baby as well, so they managed to grab the baby and my daughter and get out the building.
“I think the majority [of residents] managed to step out before the fire started spreading.
“But everything they have is back in the building and we have no clue what happened.”
Image: Dinesh Raj, speaking to Sky News
The fire is producing heavy smoke and locals are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way.
“The Brigade’s Control Officers have taken 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people.
“We are also using new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre turntable ladders and 32-metre turntable ladders to provide incident commanders with a vantage point for assessing the scene.
“They are also being used as water towers to deliver water onto the fire from above.”
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The London Ambulance Service was called to the incident at 2.52am.
They sent a large number of resources to the scene, including members of the hazardous area response team and an air ambulance.
Image: The scene on Monday morning. Pic: UKNIP
Image: Pic: UKNIP
Emergency services maintained a large presence at the scene later into Monday morning.
A rest centre has been set up in the Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre.
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