London's Grenfell Tower, the site of a tragic fire over seven years ago that claimed the lives of 72 people, is set to be demolished, stated bereaved families and survivors on Thursday.
The devastating incident occurred in June 2017, and was deemed the deadliest residential blaze in the UK since World War Two, where the 23-story social housing block was consumed by flames.
Grenfell Next of Kin (GNK), a group representing relatives of almost half of the victims, revealed that Britain's Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, communicated the decision on the tower's future during a meeting with families and survivors on Wednesday.
The demolition of the tower, currently enclosed in protective wrap, is scheduled to commence later this year, after the eighth anniversary of the tragedy in June, as advised by GNK due to structural concerns.
Regarding the decision to dismantle the tower, GNK explained, Do we wish the whole tower could stand forever? Yes. Is that an option? Not from a structural point of view.
Experts consulting the government warned that the tower's condition would deteriorate over time, necessitating the careful removal of the damaged sections to ensure safety.
Grenfell United, advocating for fire survivors and families, criticized the lack of consideration given to their voices during a brief consultation by Rayner, describing it as "disgraceful and unforgivable."