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London High-Rise Lifts Fail in Heatwave
24 Jun
Summary
- Residents trapped in a London tower block as heat failed its lifts.
- Elderly and infirm residents face difficult climbs due to non-working lifts.
- Property managers apologize but residents report no support has been offered.
Residents in Tower Hamlets, east London, are enduring significant distress as a severe heatwave caused all three lifts in their tower block to malfunction. This outage has forced inhabitants of Royal Captain Court, a building lacking air conditioning, to navigate numerous flights of stairs daily. The extreme temperatures within the stairwells have led to residents feeling unwell, with one individual reporting fainting mid-climb on the way to their 20th-floor apartment.
Property managers, Sanctuary, have issued an apology acknowledging the "highly disruptive" failure, attributing it to the lifts entering "fire safety mode" due to the high temperatures. They stated their lift contractor is urgently working on repairs and that increased support is being offered to residents, particularly those with special needs. However, affected residents have expressed that no tangible assistance has been provided thus far, leaving them feeling helpless and considering relocation.
The prolonged absence of functional lifts raises concerns about emergency preparedness for high-rise buildings. Reports include individuals with recent leg injuries struggling immensely, and families with young children facing perilous journeys with essential supplies. The situation underscores a critical health and safety issue, with residents calling for more humane management practices during extreme weather events.
