A Nottinghamshire woman has reflected on the moment she heard a young boy scream: “Get out, there’s a fire," as a blaze broke out on the 17th floor of a block of flats in Whitechapel on Monday, March 7.
More than 125 firefighters tackled the blaze and about 60 people were evacuated from the London tower block.
During the incident one woman from Nottinghamshire spoke to the Press Association news agency about her experience, as she was in the building at the time.
Rachel, who did not give her last name to reporters, was staying at a friend’s flat on the 10th floor of the block in Aldgate East, visiting London to celebrate her 50th birthday.
She had just arrived at the flat and was putting her things away when she smelled smoke.
"I saw the buses turning around outside and I thought something like a car accident had happened on the street,” she told PA. “I never thought for a second that there could be a fire.”
But then she put her head out into the corridor and heard a young boy scream: “Get out, there’s a fire.”
Rachel added: “If it had not been for him I would have had no idea there was a fire. There was no alarm on the 10th floor.”
Understandably, Rachel says she has been "shaken” by the terrifying incident.
Describing the scene at Whitechapel High Street, she added: “There were mothers and babies on the street with social services sorting them out.
“I’m very shaky. I’m just worried about everyone who lives there. To not have any alarms in a building like that – all I can say is I live in a bungalow and I’m never leaving a bungalow.”
Asked where she would stay overnight, she said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen now.”
London Fire Brigade said they were called to Whitechapel High Street shortly before 4pm.
A drone and a helicopter hovered near the building as firefighters worked to put out the flames.
Reports revealed that flames had spread to a balcony on the 18th floor before fire crews put them out.
Flames could later be seen through a window on the 19th floor.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he is in close contact with Fire Commissioner Andy Roe as crews continue to battle the Whitechapel blaze.
He tweeted: “20 fire engines and more than 125 firefighters are working hard to tackle a fire at a block of flats and offices on Whitechapel High Street.
“I’m in close contact with the Fire Commissioner – please avoid the area and follow @LondonFire for updates.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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