A PENSIONER died and two women were seriously injured today when a major blaze ripped through a Glasgow tower block.

A massive emergency operation was launched after fire broke out on the fifth floor of Waddell Court in the Gorbals at 3am.

Fifty firefighters were at the scene at the height of the blaze, and 31 wore breathing gear to carry out a full search of the
18-storey tower block.

Residents were heard shouting "help me" from a landing where the fire broke out in the Glasgow Housing Association property.

Dozens of tenants, including children, were evacuated from the high-rise.

It was later confirmed a 67-year-old man had died in the blaze. He has not been named.

Four other people – two men and two women – were taken to the Victoria Infirmary.

The men were later released but the two women were being treated for severe smoke inhalation.

Fifteen residents were treated by paramedics in the lobby of the flats, while 20 others were taken to a rest centre which was opened at nearby Gorbals Leisure Centre.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze, which took four hours to extinguish.

The fire spread from one flat to the next through a verandah, with both homes virtually destroyed.

Seventh-floor resident Peter Mealey, 25, said: "I woke up and could smell smoke, but couldn’t see a thing in the flat.

"I banged on neighbours’ doors as I was worried about my pal who has a seven-month-old baby.

"When we got out all we could see was flames."

His friend David McAulay, 33, said: "We couldn’t believe it when we saw the flames. It was a frightening experience.

"We don’t know when we will be allowed to return and may have to get temporary accommodation."

One young mum-of-one told how she escaped from her second-floor flat with her partner.

The 21-year-old, who did not want to be named, said: "I woke up and heard banging noises.

"At first I thought it was someone having a party and then I looked out to see flashing blue lights. We got out of the flat.

"Thankfully our nine-month-old daughter was staying at her gran’s overnight as we would have been worried about her breathing in smoke.

"Luckily we are OK but don’t know when we will get access to the building to get a change of clothes for the baby."

A fleet of fire engines, police vehicles and ambulances were still at the scene this morning in Ballater Street.

Thick black soot could be seen on the upper floors. Windows were broken from the intense heat.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue area commander Garry Milne said: "It was one of the largest fires we have had to deal with for some time."

He praised crews, including those from Polmadie and Calton, who risked their lives fighting the blaze.

He said: "I have to commend the crews involved as this was a hazardous intense fire.

"Crews faced a difficult fire, with extreme heat and blind conditions. The flats are split level and the smoke and heat was coming up to meet them.

"We had 31 breathing sets in use, which is a huge amount and reflects how serious a fire it was."

Glasgow City Council’s emergency operations team are providing help at Gorbals Leisure Centre, which is being used as a rest centre for evacuated residents.

Leisure facilities were closed until further notice.

A council spokeswoman said: "It may be some will have to be given emergency accommodation."

GHA director of housing and customer services Alex McGuire said: "Everyone at GHA extends their sympathies to the family of the man who died in the fire.

"We are working with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and we will be doing everything we can to help the families affected."