London reveals results of investigation into massive fire that killed 72 people
Illustrative photo (t.me/s/dsns_telegram)
The findings of a public inquiry into the devastating fire at London's Grenfell Tower in 2017, which claimed 72 lives, have been released, attributing blame to government failures, the construction industry, and specific firms, according to Reuters.
The fire engulfed the 23-story social housing building in one of London's wealthiest areas on the morning of June 14, 2017. It was the deadliest residential fire in the UK since World War II.
"The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable," said inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick.
In its long-awaited final report, the inquiry placed the greatest responsibility for the disaster on the companies involved in the maintenance and refurbishment of the high-rise, as well as on companies that, it said, falsely marketed combustible cladding materials as safe.
Moore-Bick also criticized the then-government, the local authorities of Kensington and Chelsea, the construction industry, regulatory bodies, specific individuals, and an inadequately prepared fire brigade for years of inaction on fire safety in high-rise buildings.
“Not all of them bear the same degree of responsibility for the eventual disaster, but as our reports show, all contributed to it in one way or another, in most cases, through incompetence, but in some cases, through dishonesty and greed,” Moore-Bick said.
The 1,700-page report described the blaze as the culmination of decades of failure, where profit was prioritized over people.
“The duty of government should be to safeguard life, whilst protecting us from corporate greed. But for too long, they have aided corporations, facilitating them to profit and dictate regulation,” said Grenfell United, a group representing some survivors and bereaved families.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized to the relatives of the victims and the survivors on behalf of the British state, saying they had been let down for years.
“It should never have happened. The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty, to protect you and your loved ones,” he said in parliament, where some relatives of the victims were present.
British police said 58 individuals and 19 firms and organizations are under investigation. However, there have been no prosecutions so far, including for corporate manslaughter and fraud.
A preliminary report by the inquiry team in 2019 found that a faulty refrigerator in a fourth-floor apartment triggered the fire.
The flames then spread uncontrollably, primarily due to the tower being clad during a 2016 refurbishment with external panels designed to improve appearance and add insulation. These panels were made of a combustible aluminum composite material that acted as fuel.
Meanwhile, on September 2, a fire at an oil depot in Proletarsk, Rostov region, Russia, was finally extinguished after burning for more than two weeks. A satellite image has emerged showing that over 30 tanks were damaged, each capable of holding up to 500 cubic meters of fuel, according to journalists.
