THREE children were among six people killed yesterday as a horrific fire tore through a tower block.
Firemen battled to pluck two of them - a three-week baby and a boy of seven - from the inferno, which survivors said was sparked by an explosion.
But they and a rescued woman were dead on arrival at hospital. A six-year-old's body was among three others recovered in Camberwell, South London,
Last night it was feared the death toll could rise as hospital medics battled to save a further ELEVEN kids and seven adults.
The woman who died was said by neighbours to be the youngest victim's mum.
A witness who saw a dad return home to find the flats ablaze said: "He was going mad. It was absolutely awful."
Screaming
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze that ripped through the 12-storey block - zigzagging through stairwells from the fourth floor where it is believed to have erupted.
Evacuated Nancy Kanu, 28, who lives on the fifth floor, said: "We saw smoke coming in through the window.
"The stairs were all full of smoke. We were really scared.
"We were crawling through the smoke. My sister was there with her three-day-old baby who is now suffering breathing problems and I was with my two kids."
Karin Abdul, 37, who lives on the third floor, said: "We heard lots of noise and I saw the fire. We had to run down the stairs. I was really scared. I was with my five-year-old son."
A woman living in flats opposite said: "Windows were just exploding and flying out in all directions."
Michael Thompson, 17, who lives in the stricken block, said: "There was a big bang that sounded like an explosion. People were screaming."
Neighbour Alhijie Samba, 44, said: "The wind blew the fire into the other flats.
"I saw eight fire trucks. When the fire started expanding we were shouting at them, 'Can't you do anything to stop this?'"
Thirty people were trapped as flames engulfed the block, called Lakanal House.
Local MP Harriet Harman visited the scene.
She said: "It's tragic." Dozens of evacuated residents spent the night in a church.
Firemen battled to pluck two of them - a three-week baby and a boy of seven - from the inferno, which survivors said was sparked by an explosion.
But they and a rescued woman were dead on arrival at hospital. A six-year-old's body was among three others recovered in Camberwell, South London,
Last night it was feared the death toll could rise as hospital medics battled to save a further ELEVEN kids and seven adults.
The woman who died was said by neighbours to be the youngest victim's mum.
A witness who saw a dad return home to find the flats ablaze said: "He was going mad. It was absolutely awful."
Screaming
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze that ripped through the 12-storey block - zigzagging through stairwells from the fourth floor where it is believed to have erupted.
Evacuated Nancy Kanu, 28, who lives on the fifth floor, said: "We saw smoke coming in through the window.
"The stairs were all full of smoke. We were really scared.
"We were crawling through the smoke. My sister was there with her three-day-old baby who is now suffering breathing problems and I was with my two kids."
Karin Abdul, 37, who lives on the third floor, said: "We heard lots of noise and I saw the fire. We had to run down the stairs. I was really scared. I was with my five-year-old son."
A woman living in flats opposite said: "Windows were just exploding and flying out in all directions."
Michael Thompson, 17, who lives in the stricken block, said: "There was a big bang that sounded like an explosion. People were screaming."
Neighbour Alhijie Samba, 44, said: "The wind blew the fire into the other flats.
"I saw eight fire trucks. When the fire started expanding we were shouting at them, 'Can't you do anything to stop this?'"
Thirty people were trapped as flames engulfed the block, called Lakanal House.
Local MP Harriet Harman visited the scene.
She said: "It's tragic." Dozens of evacuated residents spent the night in a church.