London fire protests continue as UK Prime Minister Theresa May meets fire victims

The charred remains of the Grenfell Tower block is pictured in Kensington, west London, on June 17, following the June 14 fire at the residential building. (Photo by AFP)

Some 58 people are now feared dead in the Grenfell Tower fire in west London, according to British police.

"Sadly at this time, there are 58 people who we have been told were in Grenfell Tower on the night that are missing and therefore sadly I have to assume that they are dead," Police Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters on Saturday, adding that the figure could change.

The confirmed death toll in the fire has risen to 30. The police chief said the figure of 58 included that toll given earlier. 

"The figure of 30 that I gave yesterday is the number that I know, sadly, have, at least, died. So that 58 would include that 30," he said.

However, according to Britain's Press Association, up to 70 people, in addition to those who are confirmed dead, are still missing.

And, according to some local residents there were some 500 residents at the Grenfell Tower when the fire broke out on Wednesday morning, and they say that not many could escape because the blaze engulfed the entire building rapidly.

Two young boys look at posters of missing people stuck to a wall, the victims of the June 14 Grenfell Tower block fire, in Kensington, west London, on June 17, 2017. (Photo by AFP) 

So, the residents are saying that the final death toll could be much higher than what British authorities are giving.

Several hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the street in London to protest against Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of the deadly Grenfell Tower fire and her attempt to form a minority government after her party failed to win an outright majority in a recent snap election.

Protesters rally in central London on Saturday and gathered outside the gates of Downing Street, demanding May’s resignation while chanting slogans, including, “May Must Go.”

They were voicing their anger against her Conservative Party’s decision to form a coalition with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), in order to make up the necessary amount of seats to keep power.

Protesters were also angry over her government’s failure to handle the Grenfle fire disaster, which destroyed the 24-story residential tower on Wednesday.

"I think it's absolutely disgraceful," said a protester. "It shows a complete lack of empathy. It's the behavior of a sociopath and a person who can't connect with the feelings of those people who have suffered. She's never had to suffer."

London Police Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters on Saturday that 58 people are feared dead in the fire. According to reports, the building was home to about 600 people.

They said that it will take weeks or longer to recover and identify all the dead in the fire disaster.

The embattled premier, who is trying to quell the anger, meanwhile, met with a group of survivors and local residents at her office in 10 Downing Street.

Victims of the Grenfell Tower fire and volunteers arrive at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May in London, June 17, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

May spent more than two hours with some of the delegation.

After the meeting, the prime minister issued a statement admitting that “support on the ground for families who needed help or basic information in the initial hours after this appalling disaster was not good enough.”

May invited them after she came under fierce fire for avoiding locals when she visited the scene of fire on Thursday.

She faced cries of "Shame on you" and "coward" when she returned the following day.