Grenfell Tower residents warn: “People have had enough”
By
our reporters
15 June 2017
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to residents about the fire that gutted Grenfell Tower early Wednesday morning.
Two young occupants, Siar and Mansoor, who were waiting outside police cordons, said, with tears in their eyes, that they lived on the 3rd floor and their uncle and his family lived on the 23rd floor.
Siar described the horrific ordeal they had just suffered, saying, “We were not asleep because we were eating after the Ramadan day fast. That is what saved us. Had we been sleeping we would not have been woken by any fire alarms. The building had none, nor fire sprinklers nor emergency lighting in the corridors showing the way out.
“In the corridors and the stairwell it was pitch black with smoke. The emergency services came up and isolated the building, preventing the surviving residents from helping those trapped inside. Police said that it was all under control.
“My uncle on the 23rd floor was ordered to stay indoors by the emergency services. We don’t have any news of him. His wife and son were dragged out of the building and are now in a coma in hospital.
“My uncle and most residents had requested for alarms to be installed in the building. To no avail. Lately the Labour Party campaigned on the promise of installing better safety systems. They said ‘Vote for us and wait until after the election’.
“Up to 800 people lived in the building. We expect the death toll to be much higher. Most media do not want to talk to those residing in the building but only neighbouring tenants.”
A young estate…