Grenfell Tower fire: 39 victims now identified as three members of same family latest to be named

The remains of Grenfell Tower looming over London's skyline
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Francesca Gillett20 July 2017

The number of victims officially identified in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster now stands at 39 with "many more" to come, a coroner has said.

Four more inquests into deaths following the June 14 blaze were opened on Wednesday at Westminster Coroner's Court .

Three members of the same family were among the latest victims to be named.

Dr Fiona Wilcox has opened and adjourned a total of 39 inquests, all of which she has suspended while a public inquiry and criminal investigation are carried out.

She told the short hearing that there are "of course still many more identifications" of those who died in the inferno during the early hours of June 14 yet to take place.

Inside Grenfell Tower

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At least 80 people are thought to have died in the devastating fire at the 24-storey block more than a month ago.

The court heard how Bassem Choukair, 40, Mierna Choukair, 13, and Nadia Choucair, 33, all members of the same family, were all recovered from the 22nd floor of the tower.

Meanwhile, Gary Maunders, 57, was recovered from the 23rd floor.

The provisional cause of death for all four victims was given as "consistent with the effects of fire", with all of them identified through their dental records.

The coroner opened and adjourned all four of the inquests and said in each case: "I formally open and immediately adjourned the inquest ... to allow the public inquiry and criminal investigations and prosecutions to take place."

She also offered her "sincere condolences" to all of those touched by the deaths.

Dr Fox revealed four members of the Choukair family have now been identified, with two more missing "presumed dead".

During the hearing, she told the Choukair family she "cannot imagine what you must be going through".

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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