The high-rise fire in London

Decades of failure behind the fire: "They were betrayed"

The Great Fire of London that killed 72 people in 2017 was the result of decades of failure by governments, the fire service and "rogue" companies. This is confirmed in the government's final report on the cause of the fire, which was presented today, British media write.

According to the investigation, since the 1990s politicians have "ignored, delayed and dismissed" fire safety, while manufacturers in turn have deliberately hidden risks with building materials. Some actors have acted incorrectly out of incompetence, others out of greed and sheer dishonesty, says Martin Moore-Bick, who led the investigation at a press conference.

He also notes that the deadly fire could have been avoided.

- Those who lived in the tower were betrayed over a number of years and in a number of different ways by those responsible for the building's security.

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He was rescued from the 19th floor: "Now I'm dying"

Seven years after the Great Fire in London, Nick Burton does not remember how he got out of the burning high-rise or how he was received by the paramedics. He only remembers thinking he was going to burn inside and "melt" in Grenfell Tower, he told the BBC.

Nick Burton and his wife Maria Del Pilar Burton lived on the 19th floor and were rescued by firefighters. About six months later, the wife died, as a result of complications after the fire. She became the fire's last and 72nd fatality.

Today, the government's final report is released, which will provide answers to how the fire could spread from the fourth to the 23rd floor within 18 minutes.

- We have been waiting for this for seven years, to get the answer in black and white, says Nick Burton.

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Hundreds are expected to receive criticism in the report on the great fire

The fire at Grenfell Tower in London started in a kitchen on the fourth floor. Within an hour, the entire 24-story building was in flames. Seven years later, today comes the final report which will provide answers to how the fire, which killed 72 people, could spread so quickly.

Already in 2019, a first government investigation determined that flammable facade cladding had been installed a year before the fire. The 1,700-page long report is now expected to point to serious shortcomings in everything from builders and fire safety experts to political decisions, writes The Guardian. The investigation is also expected to lead to several prosecutions.

The report was originally supposed to be presented this summer, but was delayed due to the high number of people - around 250 people - who are criticized in it and needed to be informed in advance.