METROPOLITAN Police have announced the recovery of 87 sets of human remains, but are unable to confirm they are from 87 individuals.

The statement also admitted that the search and recovery operation inside the tower was not likely to be completed until the end of 2017.

Specialist officers, with the help of anthropologists, have been tasked with sifting through 15.5 tonnes of debris per floor in a search for human remains.

In total, 21 bodies have been formally identified by the coroner with their families informed.

Met officers have been in contact with at least one person who lived in 106 of the 129 flats from the complex, with 18 people from those flats presumed dead.

“Tragically, there are still 23 flats where despite our investigative efforts we have been unable to trace or speak to anyone who was in those properties on the night. We assume that sadly no one from any of those flats survived”, said Commander Stuart Cundy, who is leading the Met’s response to the fire at Grenfell Tower.

He added:”We are absolutely determined to do all we can as quickly as we can to return all those who are in Grenfell Tower to their loved ones.”

However, the “catastrophic damage” inside Grenfell means “until formal identification has been completed to the coroner’s satisfaction I cannot say how many people have now been recovered”.

The announcement comes shortly after Cundy and Westminster coroner Fiona Wilcox were involved in a tense exchange with victims’ families and survivors, who felt the inquiry was taking too long.

Detectives continue to request any information members of the public may have about who was in tower and who escaped on the night of the fire. Appeals are also being made for information on those who remain missing.

There was further bad news for North Kensington residents yesterday afternoon, as a neighbouring building to Grenfell Tower was evacuated due to “fire safety” concerns.

Approximately 50 residents vacated the North Kensington Law Centre, in the basement of one of the “finger” blocks surrounding Grenfell Tower.

Locals were left initially confused but after a short wait it was announced the alarm was a false one after a “miscommunication”, according to police.

Residents were soon allowed back into the building.

The evacuation caused investigatory work within the tower to cease briefly before workers were given the all clear to continue.

Meanwhile, the Home Office has agreed to grant a temporary 12 month “amnesty” for survivors of the fire, regardless of immigration status. The announcement was made to allay the fears of foreign nationals directly affected by the fire who may have been reluctant to contact the authorities due to issues with their visas, according to immigration minister Brandon Lewis.

The move ensures that Grenfell area residents caught up in the disaster will not be subject to checks by the Home Office.

Those who come forward with information to the Grenfell inquiry with information are also exempt.

“The Government has been clear that our priority is to ensure that victims of this tragedy get the access they need to vital services, irrespective of immigration status”, Lew said.

Shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, who has previously made the case for an immigration amnesty for all Grenfell survivors, argued the government plan was not sufficient.

“Some survivors have literally lost everything in this horrific tragedy, all their possessions, homes and loved ones,” she said.

“The idea that on top of this they could be deported later is grotesque.

“To access all the support they need without fear of deportation, any survivors concerned about their status must be given indefinite leave to remain.

“Otherwise, they may just disappear off the grid”.