11 Hospitalised After London Apartment Fire
A significant fire engulfed a residential building in London’s upscale South Kensington neighborhood during the early hours of Friday, resulting in 11 individuals being hospitalized and approximately 130 evacuated, as confirmed by fire officials.
Fifteen fire engines and roughly 100 firefighters swiftly responded to the blaze at a terraced house, which had been converted into apartments, situated on Emperor’s Gate, in the southwest region of the British capital, in close proximity to the Natural History Museum.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered half of the ground floor of the five-storey structure ablaze, with the fire subsequently spreading to the top floor and roof, as reported by the London Fire Brigade.Station Commander Steve Collins, present at the scene, emphasized the diligent efforts of crews to prevent the fire from extending to adjacent buildings.
In the midst of the chaos, five individuals were successfully rescued using ladders, while around 130 residents were evacuated from the affected property and neighboring structures.The fire service further disclosed that approximately 11 individuals required treatment for smoke inhalation and were subsequently transported to hospitals for medical care.
The incident underscores the swift response and coordination of emergency services during such critical situations.Credit: AFP