Lebanese family missing in London fire

BEIRUT: A Lebanese family of six has been reported missing in the Grenfell Tower fire that erupted in west London, a statement from the Foreign Ministry confirmed.

“The Lebanese Embassy in London has reported that the Lebanese family of Bassem Choucair and his wife Nadia, along with their three children Zeinab, Mirna, and Fatima aged respectively 3, 11 and 14, in addition to Nadia’s mother Soria Choucair, went missing,” the statement said.

The family had immigrated to London from their hometown of Nahle, north of Baalbeck, and resided on the 22nd floor of Grenfell Tower. 

The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday and shortly engulfed the 24-storey building, which housed around 600 residents. The Metropolitan Police service has raised the death toll to 17, along with 37 hospitalized, 17 of whom are in critical condition, British media reported.

Inaam Osseiran, the Lebanese Ambassador to Britain, reaffirmed the family’s missing status, saying that “no information has yet been recovered, and Sawsan, Nadia’s sister, is still looking across local hospitals and making public announcements in a frantic attempt to find her sister and three nieces.”

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Sawsan reported she was on the phone with the family as the fire was spreading. “They were screaming and shouting - all I could hear in the background. I could hear two of them shouting 'get out' and try and find an exit or something,” she said.

According to a report by the Mirror, one of Nadia’s daughters rang her best friend amid the fire and said, “We’re not going to make it. I love you,” raising more doubt over the survival of the family.

The family still awaits any news on the missing victims.