Fire breaks out in high-rise block of flats in south east London
A fire today broke out in a London tower block, engulfing multiple floors and sending black smoke pouring into the sky.
Around 70 firefighters battled the blaze in Catford, with 10 fire trucks also rushed to the scene.
Crews received more than 50 calls about the inferno, which was first reported just before 1pm today.
The London Fire Bridge, who had asked the public to avoid the area, said the inferno was under control around 2.30pm.
Shocking footage showed flames leaping from the window of a flat, while smoke could be seen for miles.
A fire today broke out in a tower block in Catford, London
Crews were first called to the inferno before 1pm. The cause of the blaze is unknown
Flames could be seen leaping from a ninth floor flat
A Lewisham local, who did not wish to be named, described the scene from below during the fire at the tower block.
They said: ‘Someone was waving from a window on one of the upper floors and we were all shouting “there’s a fire, a fire”
‘It was mad. It was crazy.’
Employees at the nearby Catford Food Centre, who did not want to be named, described the flames in the apartment block as ‘massive’.
They said: ‘One of us saw it from our apartment window. My sister told me “there’s a fire”.
‘It’s a big apartment block and old. The flames were massive. Everyone was on the road watching and taking videos.’
Locals have posted videos to social media of the blaze, and the outside of the tower block appeared to be charred, too.
One wrote: ‘Flats on fire in Catford with people in building. Horrible scenes. Fire brigade at rescue.’
The London Brigade said at 2.25pm there were no reports of any injuries, and they had the blaze under control.
Snaps showed crowds of people gathering on the streets as fire crews on aerial appliances seen working to extinguish the inferno at its level.
London Fire Brigade said: ‘Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a fire at a block of flats on Rosenthal Road in Catford.
‘Two flats on the 9th and 10th floors of the building are currently alight.
‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken almost 50 calls to the blaze.
‘The Brigade was called at 1251. Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Deptford, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
‘The cause of the fire is not known at this time.’
It added: ‘The fire in Catford is now under control.
‘There are currently no reports of any injuries.’
It comes on the day of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry into the 2017 fire which killed 72 people.
