LONDON, Sep 05 (Alliance News): A comprehensive seven-year public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has found that the devastating blaze, which killed 72 people, was the result of “decades of failure” by both the UK government and the construction industry.
The inquiry’s report, spanning 1,700 pages, reveals that the 24-storey building was wrapped in highly flammable cladding due to cost-cutting measures and regulatory failures, CNN reported.
The fire began in the early hours of June 14, 2017, triggered by an electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor. What started as a small house fire rapidly escalated into Britain’s deadliest blaze since World War II, as flames spread through the flammable insulation and cladding installed during a recent renovation.
Martin Moore-Bick, chair of the inquiry, condemned the series of failures that led to the tragedy.
“The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable,” Moore-Bick said. The report pointed to systemic issues including cost-cutting, dishonesty in the construction industry, and a “deregulatory agenda” by the government.
The Conservative-run local council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, as well as the cladding manufacturers and other involved parties, were also heavily criticized.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed Parliament shortly after the report’s release, expressing profound regret and acknowledging the extensive institutional failures that led to the tragedy. “It should never have happened,” Starmer said, as some of the bereaved families observed from the gallery. He vowed that the Labour government would review the report’s recommendations to prevent future disasters.
The report also highlighted that the clash between corporate interests and public safety was a recurring issue. “Whenever there’s a clash between corporate interest and public safety, governments have done everything they can to avoid their responsibilities,” the statement said.
Despite the report’s release, victims may have to wait up to 18 months for potential criminal convictions, as London’s Metropolitan Police work to scrutinize the findings and gather evidence. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy stressed the need for a thorough investigation to secure justice for the victims and their families.
In response to the tragedy, widespread inspections of high-rise buildings across the UK have revealed extensive use of flammable cladding, prompting urgent safety reviews and reforms.
