London police say 58 assumed dead in Grenfell tower fire

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy on Saturday said 58 people are missing and assumed dead as a result of Wednesday's Grenfell Tower fire in west London.

He said the 58 missing people included the 30 who have been confirmed dead, adding that the number of those assumed dead in the fire may increase.

"Sadly at this time, there are 58 people who we have been
told were in Grenfell Tower on the night that are missing, and therefore, sadly, I have to assume that they are dead," Cundy told reporters.

Members of the emergency services work on the middle floors of the charred remains of the Grenfell Tower block in Kensington, west London, June 17, 2017. /VCG Photo

The police have prioritized removing the deceased from Grenfell Tower, Cundy told media.

The Metropolitan Police also called on the public to provide images or video footage which could help them to investigate the cause of the huge fire, which engulfed the 24-story Grenfell Tower in North Kensington as residents slept.

People bring flowers to the edge of the cordon in the aftermath of the June 14 Grenfell Tower block fire, in west London, June 17, 2017. /VCG Photo

Anger in London

While the blaze has prompted an outpouring of generosity, with many people donating provisions and clothes, it has also unleashed rage at the authorities as the charred tower was cast as a deadly symbol of a deeply divided society.

On Friday, angry protesters chanting “We want justice” stormed their way into the Kensington and Chelsea town hall to try to confront the leaders of the local council.

Residents of the destroyed tower said Prime Minister Theresa May was far too slow to visit the stricken community, that the building had been unsafe and that officials have failed to give enough information and support to those who have lost relatives and their homes.

Protesters in London on June 16 take part in a demonstration outside No.10 Downing Street calling for British Prime Minister Theresa May to resign and justice for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. /VCG Photo‍

With anger mounting over the government’s handling of the blaze, May met residents from Grenfell Tower and vowed to personally oversee the recovery as protesters gathered to demonstrate in the streets around Downing Street for a second day.

On Saturday, May spent over two hours meeting residents from the North Kensington area at No.10 Downing Street and chaired a meeting on the government’s response to the fire.

She has promised to set up a public inquiry and pledged five million British pounds (6.39 million US dollars) of support, housing guarantees and help with access to bank accounts and cash. Those who lost their homes will be rehoused within three weeks, she said.

“It has been decided today that the public inquiry will report back to me personally,” May said. “As prime minister, I will be responsible for implementing its findings.”

Separately on Saturday, more than 1,000 people gathered near Downing Street to protest against May's plan to form a government with the support of socially conservative Northern Irish party the DUP.

One banner showed a drawing of May with the words “Shame” and “Disgrace.”

(With inputs from Reuters)