Massive fire breaks out at London apartment building

A fire broke out at a 27-story apartment building in West London early Wednesday morning, requiring at least 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters, according to the London Fire Brigade.

Authorities initially received the call at around 1:15 a.m. to the fire that stretched from the second floor to the top. Metropolitan Police said "an evacuation process is under way," the BBC reported.  

There were indications that people were trapped in the burning building, according to media accounts. Trapped residents were reported to have built ropes from sheets to escape from windows.

"I'm 100 meters away and I'm absolutely covered in ash," one eyewitness told Radio 5 Live. "It's so heartbreaking, I've seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can't get out."

The residential block holds 120 flats, according to the Daily Mail.