A major fire has erupted at a residential apartment block in Leman Street, Aldgate, sparking a large-scale emergency response late this afternoon.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze, which broke out shortly after 5.30pm.
The fire has engulfed a flat on the fifth floor, with part of another flat on the seventh floor also alight. Fire crews are working tirelessly to contain and extinguish the flames.
To assist with their efforts, a 64-metre turntable ladder has been deployed as an observation tower, providing incident commanders with a clear aerial view of the scene to guide operations.
Firefighters from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green and other nearby stations are currently at the scene.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
“Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling a flat fire on Leman Street in Aldgate. A fifth-floor flat is alight and part of a second flat on the seventh floor is also affected.
“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 17:43 and crews were swiftly mobilised. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.”
There is currently no word on injuries, and authorities have not yet confirmed if any residents were trapped or required evacuation.
Members of the public are advised to avoid the area to allow emergency services to operate safely and effectively.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
