'It's a disgrace': London Tower mourners appalled by tourists taking 'disaster selfies'

As the London Tower death toll continues to rise, there’s growing outrage at the number of tourists snapping 'disaster selfies' in front of the charred apartment block.

Less than one week since the 24-storey Grenfell Tower erupted in flames, countless visitors have been spotted posing in front of a scene where a presumed 79 people lost their lives.

Mourners and nearby residents have since erected signs near the site pleading with visitors to "stop taking pictures please" and "stop taking selfies."

Wayne Kilo Lewis held no punches in his description of those who set out to boost their social media pages.

A woman was spotted snapping a selfie in front of the smoldering Grenfell Tower.

"It was such a disgrace to see people taking selfies with the tower behind them, thinking it was OK to do that in front of residents and people who lost their loved ones in the fire," he told CNN.

"It broke my heart to see people all dressed up like it was (the Notting Hill) Carnival and guys trying to get girls' phone numbers."

The 'disaster selfie' has dominated headlines in recent years with eager tourists facing publicly ridicule for snapping photos at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, the Amatrice earthquake scene and a New York explosion site.

• 'We want justice!': London Grenfell Tower block fire protesters storm town hall

• Devastating first look inside charred remains of gutted London Grenfell Tower inferno

• 'It was my flat. My fridge exploded': Man whose 'faulty fridge started London tower inferno' identified

Those responsible will be brought to justice

In what has become an unfortunate reccurance in recent days, the revised death toll is expected to grow again.

"I'm afraid to say there are now 79 people that we believe are either dead or missing and I sadly have to presume are dead," police commander Stuart Cundy told reporters.

New images show the charred ruins inside the Grenfell Tower. Source: Met Police

He said only five people had been formally identified so far by police. Officers had earlier warned that some may never be identified due to the condition of their remains.

Cundy said the search and recovery operation was ongoing in the burnt-out 24-storey tower, which was built in 1974 and had received a major refurbishment that was completed last year.

"This is an incredibly distressing time for families and they have my commitment that we will do this as quickly as we possibly can," he said.

New images inside London fire tower show "indescribable" scenes. Source: AP

Debris fallen near the entrance. Source: Met Police

Cundy promised an "exhaustive" criminal investigation into the fire that would also look at the refurbishment.

"We will go where the evidence may take us," and do everything possible "to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice," he said.