24-Story London Tower Erupts in Flames as Residents Scream for Help by ALEX JOHNSON

[*CaRtoo'N™]

A 24-story residential tower in West London was being evacuated early Wednesday as it enormous flames engulfed the building, police said.

 

Police, fire and ambulance crews raced to Grenfell Tower, part of the Lancaster West housing estate about a mile northwest of Kensington Palace.

The London Fire Brigade said it had sent 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters to battle the inferno.

Scores of passersby posted video of the giant blaze on social media, many of them saying they could hear residents screaming for help from their windows.

London Metropolitan Police said that two people were being treated for smoke inhalation but that further injuries were possible in the fire, which was reported at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday local time (8:16 p.m. ET Tuesday).

Police said an evacuation of the 120-unit tower was under way. Cordons were erected to seal off the scene, and people were urged to avoid the area.

Grenfell Tower was recently totally refurbished, according to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the local governing authority.