27-storey tower block in London on fire (Photo: EPA/ VNA)

Police said 17 people have been confirmed dead with the number expected to rise. Firefighters searching the smoldering ruin in west London recovered six bodies from the 24-story Grenfell Tower, while 11 others were located but could not yet be removed from the gutted structure. Around 600 people are said to have lived in the tower block. The number of casualties is also expected to rise. It is thought that identification of the victims will take several months.