79 people presumed dead in London tower block fire

Seventy-nine people are dead or missing and presumed dead following a devastating blaze in a council-owned London tower block last week, police said on Monday, updating an earlier toll of 58 presumed dead.

"As of this morning, I'm afraid to say there are now 79 people that we believe are either dead or missing and I sadly have to presume are dead," police commander Stuart Cundy told reporters.