British Prime Minister
Theresa May has pledged to support victims of Wednesday's London
high-rise deadly fire, a day after she was met by enraged protesters who
were crying at her “coward” and “murderer.”
May was due
to chair a meeting on Saturday on the government's response to the fire
that engulfed London’s Grenfell Tower in north Kensington on Wednesday
and has left at least 30 people dead.
The death toll from the fire
is expected to rise as around 70 people are still missing, according to
Britain's Press Association.
British health authorities also said
that 19 patients are still being treated at four London hospitals, ten
of whom remain in critical condition.
To quell the mounting anger, May pledged to rehouse those who lost their homes in three weeks.
She also pledged 5 million pounds ($6.39 million) of support, housing guarantees and help with access to bank accounts and cash.
Members
of the emergency services work inside the destroyed Grenfell Tower
block in Kensington, west London, on June 17, 2017. (Photo by AFP)
The premier promised police and fire investigations into the fire and pledged to set up a public inquiry.
“What I'm now absolutely focused on is ensuring that we get that support on the ground," May told BBC.
"Government
is making money available; we're ensuring that we're going to get to
the bottom of what's happened, we will ensure that people are rehoused.
But we need to make sure that that actually happens," she added.
The fire has unleashed anger and sparked protests in London with protesters calling for “justice.”
May
was met by angry protesters on Friday as she was visiting the group of
victims, residents, volunteers and community leaders at St Clement’s
Church close to the scene of the blaze.
Protesters call on Prime Minister Theresa May to resign during a rally on June 17, 2017 in London. (Photo by AFP)
Protesters were shouting “coward” and “murders” at the prime minister as police were trying to hold them back.
Police finally scuffled with protesters, while May was rushed away under heavy police guard from the scene.
Residents
of the destroyed tower however said she was far too slow to visit them.
They said officials have failed to give enough information and support
to those who have lost relatives and their homes.
The
premier has already been under pressure over snap election in which her
Conservative Party fell short of the 326 seats needed for outright
majority. May is now trying to form a coalition to get her more than the
326-seat threshold needed to pass legislation in parliament.
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