Harrowing video posted by Egyptian woman trapped inside Grenfell Tower goes viral

Rania Ibrham posted a video on Facebook's live feed at around 2:00am (0100 GMT) on Wednesday during the height of the blaze, showing distressing scenes from within the burning tower block.

The video, which has been viewed over 176,000 times, will clearly become a crucial piece of evidence for investigators amid widespread claims of serious failings concerning the buildings fire safety.

Ibrahm filmed the corridors outside her front-door engulfed in thick black impenetrable smoke as she called out to her neighbours to come into her flat for safety.

Her horror becomes quickly apparent towards the end of the video as Ibrahm looks out of her window - revealing a long drop to the ground – and relays that they have no means of escape.

The video ends with Ibrahm praying repeatedly in Arabic and reciting the Muslim testimony of faith. Her fate along that of her children and the neighbours in her flat remains unclear.

At least 12 people were killed on Wednesday after a massive inferno tore through a London apartment block, with witnesses reporting terrified residents had leapt from the tower and dropped their children in a desperate bid for survival.

As smoke continued to billow from the gutted building, survivors voiced anger over longstanding safety fears at the 24-storey tower, which was home to between 600 and 800 people.

Firefighters were unable to reach residents trapped on the higher floors as the blaze took hold.

"There are now 12 people that have died that we know of," police commander Stuart Cundy told reporters at the scene.

"I do anticipate that the number of fatalities will sadly increase" he said, adding that he did not expect fire crews hunting through the debris to find any survivors.

Seventy-eight people were being treated in hospitals, 18 of whom are in a critical condition.

The alarm was raised just before 1:00 am (0000 GMT) and within an hour flames had engulfed the entire block of 120 flats.

More than 200 firefighters had been tackling the blaze and managed to rescue 65 people.