Pinay among missing after London tower fire

Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday sought help to locate one of their church members residing at the Grenfell Tower in London, which has been ravaged by a deadly fire Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Villanueva said they have been trying to establish contact with Ligaya Moore, a member of Jesus is Lord (JIL), since the fire happened. Villanueva’s father, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, is the founder of JIL.

Moore, who is likely over 60 years old, resides either on the 17th or 21st floor of the high-rise residential tower, the senator said.

“We looked for contacts in the Philippines, na-confirm na 'yun 'yung mobile number niya but it can’t be reached up to this time,” Villanueva said.

“Almost 24 hours na, we’ve been looking for her, trying to locate her, wala pa rin balita but we’re praying na hopefully, makikita siya,” he added.

The JIL church, Villanueva said, is just adjacent to the Grenfell Tower.

The Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom has echoed Villanueva's appeal through Facebook.

According to the embassy, several Filipinos were injured and affected by the blaze.

The embassy did not say how many Filipinos were affected, but said "a number of them" were brought to emergency shelters at St. Clement's Church, the St. Francis of Assisi Church and the Portobello Rugby Club on Walmer.

London Fire Brigade said the fire had engulfed all floors from the second to the top of the 24-storey Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West Estate in west London.

Some people were trapped in the fire, with residents desperately shouting for help from windows on upper floors as the fire spread, according to some British media reports. —KBK, GMA News