UK Inquiry Determines All Grenfell Tower Fire Deaths Were 'Avoidable'

The Grenfell Tower in the UK capital was devastated by a deadly fire on July 15, 2017 [File: Reuters].

4 Sep 2024

The report into the Grenfell Tower fire, which resulted in 72 deaths in London in 2017, has concluded that all of the fatalities were “avoidable.” Released on Wednesday after a six-year inquiry, the final report highlights a combination of failures leading to the tragedy.

The report cites decades of government neglect, safety indifference by authorities, dishonesty and incompetence from building material manufacturers and installers, and inadequate strategies by firefighters as key factors contributing to the death toll.

Inquiry chairman Martin Moore-Bick, speaking at a press conference, stated that the residents of the 24-storey building were “badly failed” over many years. “The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable,” he said.

The two-phase inquiry, which involved over 300 public hearings and approximately 1,600 witness statements, took longer than anticipated due to its extensive scope and the discovery of many more issues than initially expected.

The report criticizes companies involved in the cladding of the building for “systematic dishonesty,” including manipulating safety tests and misrepresenting results to falsely claim the material was safe.