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London fire: Officials say it will be a miracle if more survivors are found; death toll reaches 17

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 6/15/2017 7:48:08 PM

London’s fire commissioner on Thursday said it will be a miracle if any survivors are found even as firefighters try to douse the massive blaze that encapsulated the 24-storey residential tower block in west London which killed at least 17 people. In a statement to Reuters, London Police Commander Stuart Cundy said: “Sadly, I can confirm that the number of people that have died is now 17.” The fire was first reported from Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate in Latimer Road at 01:16 am (local time) on Wednesday. Around 600 people were reported to have been inside the building’s 120 flats, many of whom were asleep when the blaze ripped through the tower. Meanwhile, police said there’s nothing to suggest that the fire had anything to do with terrorism.
Firefighters worked persistently through the night to subdue the fire even as flames were still visible, more than 24 hours after the blaze started. Police have confirmed at least 17 deaths till now among the 600 residents believed to have lived in the tower. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as the building is combed during search operations.