London fire: Six confirmed dead in the flames

Grenfel towers in London

London's Metropolitan Police have confirmed six deaths and more than 20 sustained serious injuries following a huge blaze that's engulfed a residential apartment block in West London. The number is expected to rise even as rescue operations continue.

Hundreds of residents in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower have been evacuated from their flats in the burning building, and at least 70 people have been taken to five hospitals in the capital for treatment.

Met Police Commander Stuart Cundy said: "I can confirm six fatalities at this time but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days." The fire brigade said the fire had spread throughout the entire building, now covered in plumes of smoke with visible pockets of fire within the charred structure.

Mini explosions could be heard as the blaze shattered windows in the tower, while debris and ash fell to the ground. London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton described it as an "unprecedented incident", something she had not seen in her 29 years of service.The cause of the blaze is not yet known.