A woman and child have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out on the 20th floor of a tower block in south-west London.
The London fire brigade sent 70 firefighters to Westbridge Road in Battersea shortly after 8pm, as images online showed flames peeling from the top of the block and a dark plume of smoke drifting into the sky.
Three people left the affected flat before crews arrived, including one woman who suffered smoke inhalation, while another 50 people left the building.
Four people were assessed at the scene by the London ambulance service.
The London fire brigade received 18 calls about the blaze.
Station commander Pete Johnson said: “Crews were faced with a lot of smoke issuing from the top of a block of flats on arrival.
“There was also lots of visible flame which has prompted a high number of calls to our control officers. There are a number of road closures in place.”
The fire was brought under control at 8.53pm. The cause is not known at this stage.
Student Ishika Deb, 20, who lives in a neighbouring block of flats, said: “I heard a bang and glass smashing. I went out and saw there was glass on the floor. Then I heard a bang and looked up and saw fire.”
She said she heard a couple of bangs then noticed that “ash was coming out”.
Fire crews from Battersea, Fulham, Wandsworth, North Kensington and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
PA Media contributed to this report
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/12/fire-breaks-out-at-tower-block-in-south-west-london
