A Southwark Council meeting on Wednesday evening was told that the borough has 200 tower blocks with "single-exit enclosed fire escapes." This was the arrangement in Lakanal House where residents were trapped by fire on Friday and six of them died - including a three-week-old baby.
150 residents have been unable to return to their homes following the blaze. Their has been considerable public anger at the performance of the Fire Brigade and the Fire Brigade Union has supported an inquiry as "no one is ever beyond criticism."
The wider issue, of course, is over the future of tower blocks. The safety hazard is yet another reason for redeveloping our estates and the tower blocks coming down.
