UK to Demolish Shell of Grenfell Tower, Nearly Eight Years After Tragic Fire Resulting in 72 Deaths

The U.K. government has announced plans to dismantle Grenfell Tower, the site of the deadliest fire in Britain since World War II. The fire occurred almost eight years ago, claiming the lives of 72 people.

Some families of the victims have expressed disappointment over the decision to demolish the tower. They believed that the charred structure should have been preserved as a memorial for those who perished in the tragic incident that took place on June 14, 2017.

However, the government justified its decision by stating that removing the remnants of the 24-story building would aid in the healing process of the community. The tower, located in the North Kensington neighborhood of west London, serves as a constant reminder of the devastating event.

“Grenfell Tower will be carefully taken down to the ground,″ the government said in a statement.

A public inquiry into the disaster concluded that decades of failures by government, regulators and industry turned the building into a “death trap.”

The investigation found no “single cause” of the tragedy, but said a combination of dishonest companies, weak regulation and complacent government authorities resulted in the building being remodeled with combustible exterior cladding that that allowed a small refrigerator fire to spread rapidly, trapping dozens of residents in their homes.