Search for Grenfell Tower blaze victims continues into third day with death toll expected to rise

A search for victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster has continued into a third day - with fears some who perished in the blaze may never be identified.

Search and rescue teams continued their work overnight into Friday as police warned the operation could take months to complete.

Officials have expressed hope that the total death toll will not reach triple figures.

It comes as rescue teams were hampered by fire within the west London block of flats flaring up again late on Thursday.

And Kensington and Chelsea Council has since claimed that Grenfell Tower residents resisted the installation of sprinklers.

Meanwhile, music producer Simon Cowell has announced plans to record a fundraising single for victims of the tragedy.

So far the death toll from the fire has risen to 17, with police hoping it will not exceed 100.

Currently, 24 people are being treated in hospital, with 12 of those receiving critical care.

However, some of the dead may never be identified, a Scotland Yard Commander has suggested.

Commander Stuart Cundy said: "It may be - and I just don't know - it may be that ultimately some victims remain unidentified.

"I won't know that until we've gone through the full recovery from Grenfell Tower and we know exactly what we've got and I anticipate that is going to take a considerable period of time."

Syrian refugee Mohammad Alhajali was the first victim named after the Grenfell Tower disaster.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May announced a public inquiry will be held amid mounting anger the inferno might have been preventable.

People are planning a rally in Westminster on Friday evening to call for justice for those caught up in the fire.

Of those confirmed to have died in the fire, six bodies have been recovered while 11 have been located inside the building but cannot yet be removed.

Sniffer dogs and forensic experts are involved as the recovery process a third day with several of the most damaged floors, where residents became fatally trapped, still to search.

The search has continued into a third day. Credit: PA

Commander Cundy said the full search of the building could ultimately stretch to months.

"We could be talking weeks, we could be talking months," he said. "It is a very long process."

"There is a risk that sadly we may not be able to identify everybody."

More than £1 million has been raised to help those affected by the fire, while more than 60 tonnes of donations of clothing and supplies has been collected by one local mosque.

  • Anyone concerned about family and friends can contact the Met casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233