Grenfell Tower fire survivors plead for urgent change as they gather to mark the two-year anniversary of tragedy

Landmarks light up green to mark tragedy ++++ Hundreds of candles lit in tearful vigil at Grenfell Tower Over 300 tower blocks still covered in danger cladding Wreath laying, second vigil and silent march to take place later today

Surivors, bereaved families and campaigners marked the second anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy today with an impassioned plea for national change.

The tragedy claimed 72 lives and left families and a community torn apart in Britain’s worst residential fire since the Second World War.

Just before 1am today, Kensington Palace and Downing Street were among the landmarks to be bathed in green light — the colour of Grenfell campaign for justice — to mark the moment the blaze began on June 14, 2017.

At Grenfell Tower itself, hundreds of people lit candles, while bunches of green and white balloons were released into the sky following a 72-second silence, as onlookers shed tears.

Today survivors intensified their calls for justice and demanded changes to building regulations.

Grenfell Tower illuminated in green last night
NIGEL HOWARD ©

Tiago Alves, 22, a physics student who lived with his parents and sister on the 13th floor, woke neighbours with cries of “get out now” before making his escape.

He said: “I know the pain I feel and I know the pain those people who lost family members feel. What we don’t want is someone else to experience that pain.

Kensington Palace is lit up green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell tower fire
Getty Images

“My main concern is making sure the building regulations are fit for purpose, not allowing combustible materials on the outside of buildings. We will continue trying to get legislation through. We need national change.”

Mr Alves said the second anniversary brought back a range of emotions, adding: “There is a sense of ‘has anything really changed?’

“At the same time there is guilt. You are angry, depressed and anxious — just don’t really know how to be feeling. Should you be fighting, crying? You just don’t know.

A man stands next to a memorial for Grenfell Tower at last night's vigil
Getty Images

“Survivors’ guilt is something that sometimes transcends logic. It’s the guilt of ‘why did I survive but so many others died?’

“It’s difficult to move on when there is still so much to be done.”

The 2nd Anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire - In pictures

1/55

The tragedy happened when flames from a fourth-floor flat spread to the outside of the tower and engulfed it in minutes because the building was covered in combustible cladding.

It remains the subject of an ongoing public inquiry and a vast criminal investigation. Thousands of people, including residents, emergency workers, developers and housing chiefs, have already been interviewed or given statements.

Families are calling for fire safety recommendations to be implemented immediately, rather than waiting for the publication of the inquiry’s phase 1 report, due in October.

Clarita Ghavimi, who escaped from the 10th floor, said: “We have been asking the inquiry since last August to make urgent recommendations without waiting for the phase one report to be finally published.

“Some things can be done now: a full review of the ‘stay put’ policy by the fire brigade; basic safety measures in high-rise blocks, like clear signs, clearly marked floor numbers, effective emergency lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

"They should start now, and could save lives.” Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick has previously said he does not consider it appropriate to make interim recommendations and any he makes will be limited to the first phase.

Bereaved families gathered this morning for a memorial service at St Helen’s Church, North Kensington, near the tower. Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist and Grenfell survivor Leanne Mya was due to sing during the service.

Afterwards white doves were to be released, and later there will be a private gathering by the tower where survivors and the bereaved will lay wreaths. Adriana Zymberaj, 45, who escaped from the 13th floor with sons Alt Haxhisefa, 12, and Alk Haxhisefa, 19, said: “It is two years on and we’re not happy. We might have moved house but we haven’t moved on. All our lives were here.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT