Huge fire engulfs two flats in east London block

A ‘huge fire’ has broken out in a flat in east London, prompting a large emergency response.

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to a fire on Leman Street in Aldgate, East London.

Video shows a blaze pouring out of the fifth-floor flat balcony, which erupted at around 5:45pm today.

Another flat was also on fire on the seventh floor of the same building.

Fire brigade crews from across London have raced to the scene.

Commanders have erected a 64-metre high observation tower and are working to suppress the fire, the cause of which has not been established.

The London Fire Brigade said in a statement: ‘A fifth-floor flat is alight. Part of a second flat on the seventh floor is also alight. 

‘One of the Brigade’s 64-metre turntable ladders is being used as an observation tower, providing a vantage point for incident commanders to assess the incident. 

‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took the first of 15 calls to the fire at 1743 and mobilised crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green and surrounding fire stations to the scene. 

‘The cause of the fire is not known at this time.’

The London Ambulance Service told Metro: ‘We were called at 6.28pm today (Sunday 20 April) to reports of a fire in Leman Street, E1.

‘We sent resources to the scene, including members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), members of our Tactical Response Unit and an incident response officer.

‘Our crews assisted our emergency services partners at the scene, but were later stood down when it was determined there were no patients for us to treat.’

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