In the midst of a terrible tragedy, it’s heartwarming to see people pulling together to help one another.
Local residents have donated so much food, clothing and toiletries to the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy that Kensington and Chelsea council have said they cannot accept any more, according to The Metro.
In a statement, Kensington and Chelsea council said: “The Council would like to thank all those who have made generous donations of food, clothing and other items.
“We would ask you to please hold off for now as we have been inundated with useful items.
“When we need donations again we will update via our website and social media.”
People donate so much to Grenfell Tower victims that council can’t take any more https://t.co/8Jg918tSbc
— Metro (@MetroUK) June 14, 2017
The horrendous fire which broke out in the early hours of the morning has left at least 12 people dead, 74 in hospital and numerous others unaccounted for. Those who were lucky enough to escape the inferno lost all their possessions in the fire.
An appeal was launched to help the victims as news of the tragedy broke. Locals dropped off donations of food, bottled water, clothing, toiletries and shoes to the Westway Sports Centre which is minutes away from the tower block.
Onlookers reported witnessing harrowing scenes after the fire broke out. Eye-witnesses say desperate parents were “throwing” their kids from the 23-floor building – screaming, “Save my children” – in attempts to protect them from the flames engulfing the West London building.
One eye witness, Samira Lamrani, recalled how she watched one mother throw her baby from a window on the ninth floor.
Samira Lamrani told the Press Association: “The windows were slightly ajar. A woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby, and if somebody could catch her baby.
“Somebody did – a gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby.”
It’s reported others jumped out the windows and formed ropes from bed sheets in a bid to escape.
Shockingly members of an action group at Grenfell Tower claim they flagged alleged safety issues with the building in the past and that safety notices in the tower told residents to stay in the building in the event of a fire.
On a residents blog, concerned families wrote that they believed the building posed a fire risk and that "only a catastrophic event will expose" the issues.
This morning, the group posted on their website that "we predicted that a catastrophe like this was inevitable and just a matter of time".
They described their concerns as falling on "deaf ears".
Our thoughts are with all the residents and their families at this time.
