Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Unveiling a Tragic Chain of Failings

A public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, attributes the disaster to failures by the government, construction industry, and especially the firms that fitted flammable cladding. The report highlights decades of neglect, incompetence, and dishonesty, holding several parties accountable for the tragedy.

A public inquiry into the devastating 2017 London Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people pinned the tragedy on significant failings by government authorities, the construction industry, and, most critically, the firms responsible for installing flammable cladding.

The fire, which tore through the 23-story social housing block in one of London's wealthiest districts during the early hours of June 14, 2017, is Britain's deadliest residential building fire since World War Two. Inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick stated, 'The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable.' The long-awaited final report primarily held the companies tasked with the apartment tower's maintenance and refit, as well as those dishonestly marketing combustible cladding materials as safe, responsible for the disaster.

The report also criticized the government at that time, the local Kensington and Chelsea authority, the construction industry, regulatory bodies, various individuals, and an inadequately prepared fire brigade for years of neglect over fire safety in high-rise buildings. Moore-Bick remarked, 'Not all of them bear the same degree of responsibility for the eventual disaster, but as our reports show, all contributed to it in one way or another, in most cases, through incompetence, but in some cases, through dishonesty and greed.'

(With inputs from agencies.)