WALES has stood in solidarity which those affected by Wednesday morning’s devastating fire in west London, in which at least 12 people died.

The fire at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in north Kensington broke out shortly before 1am yesterday, quickly engulfing the building.

Residents on the upper floors were trapped and 74 people need hospital treatment, including 20 in critical care.

Writing on Twitter yesterday morning first minister Carwyn Jones said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the horrific fire at Latimer Road, London.”

Also writing on Twitter, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, posting a link to a news report on the fire, said: “Awful scenes - thoughts with those affected and our incredibly brave emergency services.”

And Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood said: “Thinking of everyone involved in the tower block fire in London. Hoping the emergency service workers and residents are all safe. Awful.”

Leader of the Senedd’s Ukip group and former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton also added his thoughts, saying on Twitter: “My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims involved in this tragic fire.”

Gwent politicians also weighted in, with newly re-elected Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith writing on his Facebook page: “Thinking of everyone affected by today’s devastating fire at Grenfell Tower. Thank you to all of our emergency services for their heroic response.”

His Labour colleague Nick Thomas-Symonds, who was re-elected as MP for Torfaen last week, said on Twitter: “Thoughts with all who have been killed, injured or affected in any way; heartfelt thanks to our emergency services:”

Also writing on Twitter, Islwyn’s representative in Parliament Chris Evans said: “Feel so sad for all those involved in #GrenfellTower -just horrendous. Very serious questions need to be asked. Just how this could happen?”

And leader of Torfaen County Borough Council said on Wednesday afternoon: “Terrible news of the fire in London. My thoughts & prayers to the victims and their families and thanks to the brave emergency services.”

While Independent Newport City Council member for Lliswerry Cllr Allan Morris said: “Respect to the firefighters who went in to the building to rescue others risking their own lives to do so Unimaginable heat & falling debris”.

Prime minister Theresa May was said to be “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life”.

London fire commissioner Dany Cotton told reporters: “This is an unprecedented incident. In my 29 years of being a firefighter, I have never ever seen anything of this scale.”

Grenfell Tower was built in 1974 and contains 120 flats thought to be home to between 400 and 600 people.

Residents who escaped complained there had been no fire alarm, with many relying on neighbours to wake them as the blaze spread while a residents’ action group said its warnings about safety had fallen on “deaf ears”.

A blog post from Grenfell Action Group in November said “only a catastrophic event” would expose the concerns residents had.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “There will be a great many questions over the coming days as to the cause of this tragedy and I want to reassure Londoners that we will get all the answers.”

Police said yesterday it was too early to identify victims, and it was possible people remained trapped within the building.

London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire is still being investigated, but several residents reported one man had said it started in his faulty fridge.