Massive fire breaks out at London apartment building

A fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building in West London early Wednesday morning, requiring at least 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters, according to the London Fire Brigade.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatuses are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire,” said Assistant Commissioner Dan Daly in a statement. “This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances.”

Authorities initially received the call at 1:29 a.m. local time to the fire that stretched from the second floor to the top. Metropolitan Police said “an evacuation process is under way,” the BBC reported.

Officials said at least 15 people were being treated for smoke inhalation. Over 20 ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team were also said to have deployed to the area.

“I’m 100 meters away and I’m absolutely covered in ash,” one eyewitness told Radio 5 Live. “It’s so heartbreaking, I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can’t get out.”

The residential block holds 120 homes, according to The Guardian. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.