A fire at a 17-storey block of flats in London is being tackled by scores of firefighters, with some 120 people evacuated so far.
While fire crews at the scene in Bromley are making “steady progress”, London Fire Brigade (LFB) warned that it is “going to be a protracted incident”.
The emergency services were alerted to the blaze just before midday, with the brigade’s 999 control centre receiving 88 calls about the fire.
Half of a five-room flat on the 15th floor of the block in St Mark’s Square was alight and part of the roof was also on fire.
There have been no injuries reported and evacuated residents have been taken to nearby St Mark’s Church while they wait for further news, with Bromley Council said to be providing support.
Station commander Colin Digby, who is at the scene, said: “Crews are making steady progress. This is going to be a protracted incident and we expect our crews to be on scene for several hours to come.”
The Premier Inn hotel next to the tower has also been evacuated and guests have been told they are likely to wait several hours to get back inside.
Jerome Smith, 22, who is staying there, said: “ I was asleep, woke up, came out, my friend messaged me saying there was a fire and they evacuated everyone.
“My car is parked in the car park, so we’re just waiting to get in. They’re saying it’s going to be a three-hour wait.”
Footage posted on social media showed flames and black smoke coming from one part of a slanted roof of the apartment block.
Further footage showed firefighters on the roof with the flames apparently extinguished.
A large cordon remains in place around the scene, with residents being diverted on longer routes to get to their homes.
Josh Gill, 29, a Co-op team leader from Bromley, said: “I literally live on the doorstep.
“I was in my flat and my mother-in-law came over to pick up my wife’s niece who stayed over last night, and as she came she said about the fire and saw all the fire brigade appear and [I] went to have a look.
“Some people were upset and crying whilst others were shocked and confused as to what was going on. The fire brigade are still here and you can see people who live in the flats evacuated in the church.”
“It is scary to see this right on the doorstep as I have a family.”
Rowland Leslie, 63, who lives nearby, said: “Where there is the slant of the building there are balconies and flames were burning ferociously at the start.
“I have been in Bromley for over an hour and where I was it looked like the fire had been put out but in the last 20 minutes it looks like it must have started up again.”
Raquell Viamonte, 22, who works at a restaurant in St Mark’s Square, said it was “terrifying” when the fire broke out.
80 firefighters were called to the blaze on the 15th floor of the apartment block
