58 people confirmed or presumed dead from London tower fire

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The death toll in the massive fire that engulfed a 24-storey tower here almost doubled to 30 today amid fears that it could climb to "triple figures", even as Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation into the cause of one of the worst fire tragedies in the country.

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy announced Saturday that 58 people are missing and presumed dead after the fire at Grenfell Tower in London, England.

"There are 58 people who we have been told were in Grenfell Tower on the night that are missing and therefore, sadly, I have to assume that they are dead".

"I really hope the number of fatalities does not reach triple figures", said Cundy said Thursday.

"All I can say is to my certain knowledge the council, councillors, volunteers, community groups, officers of the council, have been present in North Kensington since very soon after they were notified that the fire had started".

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Cambridge visited the area to meet residents and community representatives and signed a book of condolence in front of a wall plastered with "missing persons" posters describing those feared lost in the fire.

Prime Minister Theresa May faced cries of "coward" and "shame on you" as she returned to the site of the devastating fire in west London on Friday after being criticised for not meeting victims in the wake of the tragedy.

"There is considerable damage within Grenfell Tower", he said.

Sixteen "very ordinary people" voiced their concerns at Number 10 and left Saturday's meeting finally feeling like they were listened to, the Bishop of Kensington, Dr Graham Tomlin said.

Clarke, who fronts Channel 4's Amazing Spaces, said he would "never forget the screams" of residents trapped in the inferno.

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Mia, a student, who also lived in the surrounding neighbourhood, said one of her friends died in the blaze.

Stephen Williams, a former Liberal Democrat MP, said he was disappointed to find promises he had made in the Houses of Commons to update fire safety building regulations had not been followed by his successors. "I am getting out to safety", said Jennifer Lopez, who works in a high-rise building a short walk from the World Trade Center in New York City.

Fifty-eight people are now believed to have been killed in Grenfell Tower fire, police said Saturday.

Twenty-four people were being treated in hospital, including 12 in critical care, he added.

The government has promised a full public inquiry, but that has done little to a sense of frustration at the lack of information about how the fire moved so quickly to engulf the building. The newspaper quoted company director John Cowley as saying the building used Reynobond PE cladding, which is 2 pounds cheaper ($2.56) per square meter than Reynobond FR, which stands for "fire resistant".

Queen Elizabeth II, in a message released on her official birthday on Saturday, said the United Kingdom has been "resolute in the face of adversity" following recent tragedies in London and Manchester.

The tragedy has provoked a huge response from nearby communities that have donated food and shelter to the victims.

Scuffles broke out near the Kensington and Chelsea town hall offices as demonstrators chanting "We want justice!" surged toward the doors.

Mr Khan left the church more than two hours later, having spoken to many members of the congregation as well as others who came in after the service to see him. "And once it's safe, they are going to go into the building", he said while trying to pacify the crowd.

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