Survivors and bereaved relatives from the Grenfell Tower fire in London have told the British government "enough is enough" after a blaze at another London block bearing the same cladding left 40 people in need of treatment.
London Fire Brigade said two adults had gone to hospital after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and a further 38 adults and four children were treated at the scene after the fire at the 19-storey New Providence Wharf development, near Canary Wharf.
Approximately 22% of the building's facade features aluminium composite material polyethylene (ACM PE) cladding panels, which were found to be a key factor in the 2017 Grenfell fire.
Survivors' and relatives' group Grenfell United said in a statement: "We are horrified by the news of the fire at the New Providence Wharf today. When will the Government take this scandal seriously? Enough is enough.
"The government promised to remove dangerous cladding by June 2020 - it has completely failed its own target and every day that goes by lives are at risk. Today more people have lost their homes in another terrifying fire.
"The government needs to treat this as an emergency and stop stonewalling residents who are raising concerns. No more games, no more excuses."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "The spectre of the tragedy at Grenfell still hangs over our city. Today we have seen again why residents in buildings with flammable cladding are living in fear.
"It is vital that Government, developers, building owners and regional authorities work together to urgently remove the cladding from every affected building."
Work to replace the cladding was "under way" and the main contractor had been due to take possession of the site on Monday, according to building developer Ballymore.
Pictures and videos on social media show part of the building engulfed in flames, with thick grey smoke pouring out of the block, several stories high.
One resident posted on Instagram: "When your building has the same cladding as Grenfell Tower. Oh my god."
The fire comes just days after the introduction of the government's post-Grenfell fire safety regulations, which campaigners argue could leave leaseholders paying tens of thousands of pounds to remove cladding on their buildings.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: "It is extremely alarming to see another high-rise building in the heart of London light up in flames.
"It should shame this government that four years on from Grenfell, there are people across the country living in buildings wrapped in flammable cladding.
"Time and time again we've warned that another Grenfell could be just around the corner unless they prioritise making people's homes safe.
"The pace of removing flammable cladding has been glacial and it's putting people's lives at risk. The Government must intervene and take quick and decisive action to end our building safety crisis once and for all."
🚨 20 fire engines on the scene of a fire at New Providence Wharf in East London this morning.
— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) May 7, 2021
The building's still covered in ACM cladding - the same type as was on Grenfell. Awaiting updates. @LBC pic.twitter.com/vvKaNzxTUW
LFB said parts of the eighth, ninth and 10th floors were alight on the building, adding that it had received 13 calls to the fire.
It added: "The brigade was called at 0855. Fire crews from Poplar, Millwall, Shadwell, Plaistow, Whitechapel and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."
