Residents of Neutron Tower, a 22-storey block of flats in Poplar, are questioning the safety of their homes after a fire broke out on Saturday, hours after the building experienced a significant water leak.
The blaze, which started shortly after 04:30 BST on the 17th floor, resulted in one fatality and temporarily displaced more than 50 residents. The building had been evacuated on Friday evening due to a pipe burst in the roof, which caused large puddles and water damage throughout all 22 storeys.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) advised residents to return home once the water was pumped out. However, some residents fear the leak may have led to an electrical fault, causing the fire. Residents also reported that no fire alarms activated and no emergency lighting was triggered during the evacuation, forcing them to navigate dark, wet stairwells.
The LFB stated that all residents' concerns would be part of its investigation with the Met Police, urging people not to speculate. First Port, the building's manager, expressed sadness over the death and stated that the circumstances are under active investigation, making it inappropriate to comment further.