FIREFIGHTERS evacuated residents from London tower block this afternoon after a huge blaze took hold.
Smoke is billowing across the capital after the fire at Relay Building in Whitechapel High Street.
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Footage of the blaze seems to show shards of glass and other debris falling to the ground from the 23-storey block.
It’s understood offices take up the lower levels of the tower, with residential properties making up the higher storeys. The fire is on the 17th floor.
The London Fire Brigade bravely dashed into the inferno to rescue those trapped inside.
Around 125 firefighters remain at the scene.
At least 50 panicked members of the public called 999 after spotting the fire in Aldgate.
Flames have taken hold of the building, which lies at the junction of Commercial Street and Whitechapel Road.
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Eyewitnesses claimed that they could still see some people on balconies while the evacuation was in process.
Shocking video recorded from a building across the street shows smoking debris plunging to the ground.
A resident said he had to run from the building after his neighbour knocked on his door to tell him their block was on fire.
The man, who did not wish to be named, told The Sun: “There were no alarms going off so I had no idea.
“It wasn’t even going off in the corridor.
“We ran straight down the stairs and out onto the street, it was very scary.
TERRIFYING BLAZE
“The building has a problem with electric faults so there have been a few fires in the past but nothing this bad.
“I was on floor 11 and I know people on floor 18 who were evacuated too.
“I think everyone managed to get out in time, which is a relief.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been called to a fire at a block of flats on Whitechapel High Street.
“Crews are tackling a fire on the 17th floor of the building. The Brigade’s 64 metre ladder has been mobilised to the incident.
“The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken more than 50 calls to the blaze.
“The Brigade was called at 3.53pm.
‘THERE WERE NO ALARMS’
“Fire crews from Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green, Dockhead, Old Kent Road, Islington and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 4:07pm today to reports of a fire at a high-rise building on Whitechapel High Street.
“We sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, a team leader in a fast response car and members of our hazardous area response team.
“We are working closely with our emergency service colleagues, more updates to follow.”
Anyone working or living nearby has been urged to keep their windows closed.
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