Filipinos among hurt in London tower fire —DFA

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said a number of Filipinos were taken to the hospital after they were injured in a fire that hit a housing block in west London.

It assured that the embassy was closely monitoring the situation there.

Acting DFA spokesman Robespierre Bolivar did not give the exact number of Filipinos who were among those hurt in the massive fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower early Wednesday.

Bolivar said London authorities had yet to release updated information.

“Embassy representatives have already visited them. Filipinos living near the Tower have also been advised not to go back to their homes until the situation stabilizes,” he added.

Bolivar further said there had been appeals to the Filipino community in the United Kingdom for assistance to Filipinos who might have been affected.

At least 12 people have reportedly been killed and over 74 others injured in the fire.

London police expected the number of deaths to increase.