A WEEK ago I, like millions, went on social media and saw the shocking images of a burning tower block for the first time.

I then turned on the television and watched the horror at Grenfell Tower unfold.

The impact of those images, including of people signalling for help at flat windows, is still very fresh in the memory.

At the time, in my mind, I drew a connection to another tragedy - 9/11 and the Twin Towers on fire.

At the weekend one of the hero firefighters who rushed into the building, Leon Whitley, gave an interview describing how he had similar thoughts about the World Trade Center. He spoke of his fear the tower would collapse while he was inside.

The bravery of our firefighters who put their lives at risk to help others should always be respected and never taken for granted.

They saved as many lives as they possibly could, but sadly not everyone could be saved.

As the week has progressed and the number of dead has risen, I have heard a phrase repeated that is very apt: how can something like this happen in the 21st century?

In this technology advanced world, how it is possible we still have buildings that are able to go up in flames so quickly, giving those inside no way to escape?

What made it worse was the emergency response from the authorities in the immediate aftermath.

The relief efforts on the ground were headed by exhausted volunteers and Londoners.

There was an excellent piece on ITV from journalist Tom Bradby who said this event had been one to hold a mirror up to society and it posed the questions what do we see, and crucially, what do we now do about it.

Firstly, everything has to be done to ensure a tragedy like this can never happen again.

Secondly, after any disaster, a co-ordinated relief effort should be in place, ready to launched within minutes.

After the funerals for victims are held, those displaced have new homes, and the shell of the tower is brought down, inevitably people, and society generally, will move on.

But this preventable disaster, the preventable loss of life, should never be forgotten.

Lessons need to be learned, and acted on, fast.