Grenfell Tower

London, (NNN-Xinhua) : There have been “a number of fatalities” in a massive fire that engulfed a 27-story apartment building in west London early Wednesday, local fire chief said.

A massive fire engulfed a 27-story apartment building in west London early Wednesday as around 30 people have been taken to hospitals following the blaze.

The Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate, built in the 1970s and renovated several times, contains 120 homes. It is feared many are trapped inside the blazing building as the fire broke out in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Local reports cited witnesses as saying they saw people jumping from the building to escape the fire and they heard screams for help as well.

TV images showed the outside of the building totally blackened, with many window frames deformed. Heavy smoke is still billowing into the air, flames still raging almost five hours after police received the first report of the fire.

Xinhua correspondent at the scene said he could smell the burning smell and saw police helicopter hovering above.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called the fire a “major incident.”

Other eyewitnesses said there are fears the residential building could collapse.

The London Ambulance Service said earlier it sent “a number of resources.” Currently, there are 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters working on the scene. London Ambulances’ hazardous environments team has also rushed to the scene.