Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the devastating fire in Grenfell Tower in west London, as the death toll continues to rise.

May said she had heard “heartbreaking stories of the people who were caught up in this terrible, terrible tragedy” and that the victims and their families deserved a full investigation. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead but that number is expected to rise.

“Right now people want answers, and it’s absolutely right, and that’s why I am today ordering a full public inquiry into this disaster. We need to know what happened; we need to have an explanation of this, we owe that to the families. To the people who have lost loved ones, friends, and the homes in which they lived.”

The prime minister also said that every effort would be made to rehouse families displaced by the tragedy locally. “I want to reassure the residents of Grenfell Tower, all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers at the moment. I want to reassure them that the government will make every effort to ensure that they are rehoused in London, and as close as possible to home.”

She added that meetings with staff from the emergency services who had tackled the blaze and described how the flames engulfed Grenfell Tower had convinced her of the need for further investigation. “It was rapid, it was ferocious and it was unexpected,” she said.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had called for a full inquiry into the blaze.



Jeremy Corbyn comforts a resident at St Clement’s church in west London. Photograph: David Mirzoeff/AFP/Getty Images

Visiting the scene on Wednesday, Jeremy Corbyn pledged to uncover the truth behind the fire, telling local residents and volunteers: “We will demand and get answers.”

The Labour leader visited the blackened shell of the tower and nearby St Clement’s church, one of the centres coordinating the community response.

He spent half an hour at the church talking to displaced families and volunteers. “We have to get to the bottom of this,” he said as community leaders showed him the donations that have been pouring in since the disaster. “The truth has got to come out and it will.”

Theresa May speaks to Dany Cotton, the fire commissioner, at the scene. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images

Corbyn repeated his pledge as he left the church, before heading to parliament to raise questions about the fire. “There is desperate stress and sadness,” he said. “There are still bodies to find in that dreadful building. We will demand and get answers.”

Meanwhile, the Mansion House dinner, where Philip Hammond was due to speak on Thursday night, has been cancelled. The event was scrapped “in light of the tragedy at Grenfell Tower”, the Lord Mayor, Andrew Parmley, tweeted.

The decision was announced after the chancellor pulled out of his appearance, saying: “In view of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, I have withdrawn from giving the Mansion House speech tonight. My thoughts are with local community.”