The fire at the Grenfell Tower, part of a housing estate in London, burnt for around 24 hours. This is how it unfolded (London times):
12.50am, Wednesday - Maryam Adam, 41, is awoken by her neighbour who says his fourth-floor flat is on fire.
A resident in a nearby building watches smoke rise from the tower on fire in London.Credit: AP
12.54am - The first of "multiple" emergency calls is made to the London Fire Brigade.
1am - The first fire crews arrive on the scene and were faced with a "rapidly developing and incredibly complex" fire at the 24-storey building.
Firefighters spray water onto the 24-storey apartment block in west London on Wednesday.Credit: PA/AP
1.16am - Police are called to the scene at the Lancaster West Estate and begin an evacuation procedure. Officers confirm "a number of people" are injured.
1.29am - London Ambulance Service is called to reports of the fire, sending 20 ambulance crews and a hazardous response team.
1.41am - Twitter user Fabio Bebber posts a picture of the fire, which had spread to the top floor, with the caption: "Fire consuming Grenfell Tower. People screaming for their lives. Horrible."
1.46am - A video shared on Twitter shows the fire has spread to both sides of the building as the night sky is illuminated orange.
A sign at Notting Hill Methodist Church where items are being collected to assist people affected by the fire that engulfed the Grenfell Tower on Wednesday.Credit: PA/AP
2.34am - Bebber posts saying he has seen someone on the top floor using a flashlight to draw attention.
2.49am - London Fire Brigade says 200 firefighters have been called to the blaze.
4.43am - The sun rises in London with smoke pouring into the morning sky. Witnesses speak of throwing children from the block while others reportedly tie bedsheets together to climb down.
7.50am - London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton confirms there have been a "number of fatalities".
11.16am - Police say six people are known to have died but expect the figure to rise.
11.45am - LAS says 64 patients have been taken to hospital, with 20 in critical care. A further 10 people have made their own way to hospital.
11.59am - Construction firm Rydon Group, which completed a refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in 2016, says it is "shocked to hear of the devastating fire".
5pm - The death toll increases to 12 and police say the recovery operation will be "long and complex".
8.22pm - British Prime Minister Theresa May says there will be a "proper investigation" following the fire, adding: "If there are any lessons to be learnt they will be, and action will be taken."
PA