GrenfellTowerFire dead rises to 79 but police warn that may change

A Met Police Commander fights back tears as he gives the update, saying it has been “incredibly emotional working” at the tower.

The number of people killed in the Grenfell Tower fire has risen to 79 – but that figure could still change, police say.

Fighting back tears as he spoke, Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said five people had been formally identified – but warned that some victims may never be identified.

“The awful reality is, as I’ve said before, is that due to the intensity of the fire and the devastation within Grenfell Tower that we may not be able to identify everybody that died,” he said.

“We have been from the top to the bottom of Grenfell Tower.

“The search operation will be painstaking and having been in there myself it’s really hard to describe the devastation that the fire has caused.”

Following his announcement, a minute’s silence was held across Britain to remember the victims of the fire, which ripped through the 24-storey London tower last week.

Mr Cundy said the death toll – which increased from 58 – could still change as investigations continue, but not as significantly as it has previously.

“I believe there may be people who were in Grenfell Tower that people may not know are missing and may not have realised they were in there on the night,” he said.

“Equally, there may be people who thankfully managed to escape the fire and for whatever reason have not let their family and friends know that they are safe.”

Mr Cundy said five people who were reported missing had now been found safe and well.

The latest figures from NHS England show that 17 patients are now being treated in four London hospitals. Of these, nine remain in critical care.