BREAKING NEWS: Over 100 Fire Fighters Battle As Huge Canary Wharf Apartment Building Goes Up In Flame

 Firefighters are battling a huge blaze that has broken out at a block of flats in east London.

Emergency crews rushed to the New Providence Wharf development, near Canary Wharf, shortly before 9am this morning.

The building is thought to still be covered in the same type of cladding which was used on Grenfell Tower.

It comes almost four years after 72 people were killed when the block in west London went up in flames following a kitchen fire in one of the flats. 

More than 100 firefighters and 20 engines are tackling the blaze in Fairmont Avenue, Poplar, which has engulfed three floors. One resident, who lives on the 10th floor, told MyLondon ‘people were stuck on their balconies shouting for help’. 

She said she was alerted to the blaze by a neighbours’ WhatsApp group, adding: ‘There are no fire alarms or sprinklers in the apartments.’ Pictures and videos shared on social media shows smoke billowing out of the plush apartment block while firefighters mounted on ladders battle the blaze. 

Andrew Wood, councillor for Canary Wharf ward in Tower Hamlets, tweeted that it was ‘very lucky’ they could reach high enough to try and extinguish the flames. He wrote: ‘As you can see fire spread up outside of New Providence Wharf Very lucky that @LondonFire ladders could reach high enough to put water on the fire from outside.

‘Their ladders go up to around 40 meters. Tallest new residential tower in the area 239 meters.’

The London Fire Brigade said: ‘Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been called to a fire at a block of flats on Fairmont Avenue in Poplar. ‘Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a 19-storey block. 

Parts of the eighth, ninth and 10th floors are alight. 

‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken 13 calls to the fire. 

‘The Brigade was called at 0855. Fire crews from Poplar, Millwall, Shadwell, Plaistow, Whitechapel and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. 

‘The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.’