September 4th 2024.
Today, after more than seven years, the final report on the Grenfell Tower fire will be published. This disaster, which occurred in Kensington, West London, claimed the lives of 72 individuals and remains one of the most devastating tragedies in recent British history. The fire, which started in Flat 16 on June 14, 2017, quickly spread throughout the tower block and left hundreds of people injured and homeless. In hopes of gaining closure and identifying the failures that allowed the fire to spread so rapidly, victims' families, survivors, and campaigners continue to fight for justice.
As we remember the lives lost in Grenfell Tower, we pay tribute to some of the individuals who tragically perished in the blaze. One of them is Khadija Saye, an acclaimed artist whose work was displayed in Venice. The 24-year-old was hailed as a "wonderful young woman" by Tottenham MP David Lammy after her death. She was due to be featured in a BBC documentary about her art, which was being showcased in Venice. Unfortunately, Khadija lost her life from fire fumes and burns on the ninth floor of the building.
Khadija's mother, Mary Mendy, also died in the fire. The 54-year-old lived with her daughter on the 20th floor but was found on the 13th floor. Another mother and son, Berkti and Biruk Haftom, sought refuge in a flat further up the tower block but were tragically found dead on the 23rd floor. Their family remembers them as leaving behind a legacy of lovely memories and a contagious laughter and charisma that will be cherished forever. It was later discovered that Berkti was 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Ali Yawar Jafari, a Syrian refugee, was the first victim to be formally identified by police. The 23-year-old was found outside the burning building after he fell from the tower block. His family remembers him as someone who loved London and the people he met in the city. The Choucair family, consisting of six members who lived on the 22nd floor, all perished in the fire. Among them were Nadia Choucair, her husband Bassem, and their three daughters Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and Zeinab, three. Nadia's mother, Sirria Choucair, was also found to have died in the flat.
Five-year-old Isaac Paulos was one of the youngest victims of the disaster. His family recounts how he was seen trying to escape the building but got lost in the smoke. Another family, Mariem and Eslah Elgwahry, were found dead on the 23rd floor. Mariem was on the phone with her brother when she died. The mother and daughter were discovered fused together, indicating they had tried to escape by fleeing higher up the building.
Joseph Daniels, who suffered from dementia, lost his life in the fire at the age of 69. His son desperately tried to persuade him to leave the building, but Joseph refused and perished in his flat. Italian couple Gloria Trevisan, 26, and Marco Gottardi, 27, both spoke to their parents on the phone during the fire. They had only recently moved into their 23rd floor home and were engaged to be married. Marjorie Vital and her son Ernie were found dead in each other's arms. Their family remembers them as kind-hearted and loving individuals.
Vincent Chiejina, Hamid Kani, the Belkadi family, and Raymond Bernard are among the other victims who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire. Each of them had their own unique story and loved ones who continue to mourn their loss. Today, as the final report is released, we hope for justice and closure for the victims' families, survivors, and all those affected by this tragic event.
Today, after more than seven years, the final report on the tragic Grenfell Tower fire is finally set to be published. This devastating event, one of the largest disasters in recent British history, claimed the lives of 72 people when a fire broke out in Flat 16 of the tower in Kensington, West London. It was a day that will forever be etched in the memories of those who lost loved ones, were injured, or left homeless.
On June 14, 2017, what started as a small fire in a kitchen quickly turned into a massive inferno that engulfed the entire tower. The fire spread rapidly due to various failures, and today's report aims to identify these issues in hopes of preventing similar tragedies in the future. As we remember the victims and their families, survivors, and advocates continue to fight for justice, The Agency stands in solidarity with the community and honors those who lost their lives in Grenfell Tower.
One of the lives taken in this tragedy was that of Khadija Saye, an acclaimed artist whose work was displayed in Venice. At just 24 years old, Khadija was praised as a "wonderful young woman" by Tottenham MP David Lammy after her death. She had been scheduled to appear in a BBC documentary about her art, which was being showcased in Venice. Sadly, she passed away in her ninth-floor apartment from smoke inhalation and burns. Khadija's mother, Mary Mendy, also lost her life in the fire. Mary, 54, lived with her daughter on the 20th floor but was found on the 13th, a heartbreaking reminder of the chaos and desperation that took place that night.
Another family affected by the tragedy was that of Berkti and Biruk Haftom. Berkti, who was 29 years old and pregnant at the time, was found dead with her 12-year-old son on the top floors of the tower. Their family shared that Berkti and Biruk left behind a legacy of beautiful memories and infectious laughter, and their love and charisma will never be forgotten. The loss of Berkti's unborn child was officially recognized as one of the 72 victims of the fire.
Ali Yawar Jafari, a Syrian refugee, was the first person to be formally identified as a victim by police. The 23-year-old was found outside the tower after falling from the burning building. His family shared that he "loved London and the people he met" in the city. The Choucair family, made up of six members who lived on the 22nd floor, all tragically lost their lives in the blaze. The family of Nadia Choucair, her husband Bassem, and their three daughters, Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and Zeinab, three, shared that their beloved mother and daughters will always be remembered for their kindness and love. Nadia's mother, Sirria Choucair, was also found to have died in the fire.
One of the youngest victims of the fire was five-year-old Isaac Paulos. He was seen trying to escape the building but unfortunately got lost in the smoke. His family shared that they will miss their kind and energetic son, who was loved by all who knew him. Another mother and daughter, Mariem and Eslah Elgwahry, died together on the 23rd floor of the tower. Mariem was on the phone with her brother when the fire broke out, and their remains were found on the 23rd floor, indicating they had tried to escape by fleeing higher up the building.
Vincent Chiejina, a 60-year-old man who lived on the 17th floor, was identified by DNA and pronounced dead at the scene from injuries consistent with the effects of fire. Hamid Kani, a 60-year-old resident of the 15th floor, was found dead on the 23rd floor, and his family shared that he struggled with hearing problems and lived alone. The Belkadi family, made up of a married couple and their two young daughters, were also killed in the fire. Their third daughter, who was six years old at the time, is believed to have survived.
Raymond Bernard, known as Moses, has been hailed as a hero for sheltering six people in his top-floor apartment, offering them his bed as he sat on the floor. The 63-year-old's family shared that he always had a smile on his face and knew how to love selflessly. Another hero of the tragedy was 45-year-old Deborah Lamprell, who worked front of house at Opera Holland Park. Her mother remembered her as a wonderful and precious daughter, always smiling and helping others. The opera house even held a special encore performance in her memory.
Abdeslam Sebbar, a 67-year-old resident of the 11th floor, was also found dead in the tower. The impact of this tragic event is still felt today, and as the final report is released, we honor the lives of those who were lost and continue to seek justice for their families and loved ones.
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