Buildings have been evacuated as a huge fire started under a busy central London street. Around 2,000 people have been evacuated from the Kingsway and smoke can be seen billowing through the street.
01 April 2015
One bystander who left the scene not long ago told RT:
"I just saw loads of smoke. You could smell the smoke as soon as you got outside. Every building in holborn, Chancery Lane, The Strand was being evacuated. I thought it was a bomb."
Transport for London (TFL) have released the following disruptions to local services:
- 10 bus routes are currently on diversion: 1, 59, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, 341 and 521
- Holborn Station (on the Central and Piccadilly lines) is closed. Tube tickets are being accepted on local buses within Zone 1
- Roads - Kingsway is closed between Holborn and Aldwych (Westminster Council Road). The Strand Underpass is also closed and Waterloo bridge is closed northbound. This is leading to serious delays along the Strand back to Trafalgar Square and also around Waterloo.
An RT video captures the scenes. A policeman can be seen struggling to breathe as smoke tears through the street.
What you need to know:
- The fire started at around 12.30
- More than 2,000 people have been evacuated
- The fire has been attributed to cables under the ground
- Holborn station has been closed
- The fire fighters have not been able to tackle the blaze effectively because they are waiting for utility companies to switch off the resources.
Crews are still working to tackle the blaze, reports say.
Ironically, a production of 'The Play That Goes Wrong' at the nearby Duchess Theatre has been cancelled this evening, due to the ongoing blaze.
Pictures of flames erupting from a manhole cover are also beginning to emerge from the scene.
Venting gas from an underground pipe, according to @LondonFire#HolbornFirepic.twitter.com/qJLxlSBfGS
— Richard Baker (@bakerpictures) April 1, 2015
ITV news gained access to the first aerial images of the fire, showing the extent of the affected area.
Amazing live news! "@itvlondon: Video:image central London fire. Thousands evacuated Kingsway http://t.co/FzmNK5ilArpic.twitter.com/oiYY2d3iN1”
— Norman Stevenson (@adviceNorm) April 1, 2015
There are reports of now nearly 70 fire fighters on the scene, and one BBC journalist has claimed the fire started with a ruptured pipe.
Gary squires from london fire brigade tells me flames are from ruptured pipe #holborn fire pic.twitter.com/Z0Nieh4OcE
— Sarah Campbell (@SarahCam3) April 1, 2015
One worker in the area told RT earlier in the afternoon:
"Our internet went out around 12.30, and an hour later the lights went out. We've been told that it's unlikely we'll be back on the grid before the end of the day.
Apparently the LAN cable on Kingsway has burnt through
There are fire engines on Kingsway, and smoke billowing out of the Civil Aviation Authority building."
Chipper students at the evacuated university are managing to see the bright side:
Evacuated from the library cause there's a fire #London#fire#excusetoslackoffpic.twitter.com/KZxfh25uSo
— Lucy (@Lmccray13) April 1, 2015
Sources have confirmed that over 2,000 people have been evacuated as a result of the fire.
Here is the official statement from the London Fire Brigade:
"Fire crews are dealing with an electrical fire among cables under the pavement on Kingsway, Holborn.
The alarm was raised after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on the pavement.
A large safety cordon is in place and more than 2,000 people have been evacuated from a number of nearby buildings due to the large quantity of think black smoke in the area.
Police have declared a major incident and closed Kingsway at both ends. Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.
Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers are at the scene. Crews are waiting for utility companies to disconnect the power supplies before tackling to blaze."
The Metropolitan police have also confirmed that Holborn station is closed while services tackle the blaze.
Please note that Kingsway in Holborn is currently closed whilst @LondonFire deal with an incident. Holborn Tube Station is also closed.
— Camden MPS (@MPSCamden) April 1, 2015
The Metropolitan Police in Camden have issued a response. They are warning individuals to avoid the area if possible.
Joint response with @BTP@Ldn_Ambulance@LondonFire to major incident in #Holborn. Avoid the area if possible ^SgtP
— Camden MPS (@MPSCamden) April 1, 2015
A bystander caught a video of the smoke.
So this is happening just outside my office! #kingsway#holborn#london#firepic.twitter.com/Ywy97tnrjA
— Martin Dyan (@MartinDyan) April 1, 2015
One source has told RT that Holborn station has closed. While the fire is a number of streets away, it has caused a mass electrical failure, which could have caused the station to close
Another evacuated worker worker at the scene told RT:
"At one pm there was some smoke coming out of the pavement outside the Civil Aviation Authority building, and our internet died. Then we worked for about an hour, and watched the cordon outside get bigger and they stopped the road"
"At half past two our electricity died... and we were told to leave. There was thick brown smoke coming out of the drain and covering the whole road. smelt of burnt plastic. Apparently a server room fire has spread to other cables"
One source at the scene told RT that he "had not seen such profound darkness since the solar eclipse".
The London Fire Brigade have confirmed that there are six fire engines and 35 fire fighters currently tackling the blaze.
Six fire engines & 35 firefighters at electrical fire on #Kingsway in #Holborn. Avoid if poss http://t.co/tSJuIIExsPpic.twitter.com/DX1NS8FfEQ
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 1, 2015
One unverified source is claiming that 2,000 workers have been evacuated. The smoke appears to be billowing out of the ground.
This is right by me. Can't see smoke tho RT @LondonFire 2,000 evacuated from buildings near cable fire on #kingswaypic.twitter.com/8mDh418O4q
— Jennifer Lipman (@jenlipman) April 1, 2015
According to their social media, the London School of Economics is evacuating their buildings in the area.
Most of #LSE is being evacuated due to a fire on #Kingsway#Holborn
— LSE (@LSEnews) April 1, 2015
Speaking to RT, one worker from the area said:
"Our internet went out around 12.30, and an hour later the lights went out. We've been told that it's unlikely we'll be back on the grid before the end of the day.
Apparently the LAN cable on Kingsway has burnt through
There are fire engines on Kingsway, and smoke billowing out of the Civil Aviation Authority building."
Photos of the scene show huge amounts of smoke.
Fire on #kingsway burning among power cables under pavement. 2 buildings and 250 people evacuated. pic.twitter.com/AIJFiQnYob
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 1, 2015
The London Fire Brigade tweeted the location of the fire.
We're dealing with a fire on #Kingsway - 4 fire engines at scene - vehicles should avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/IaxwYV0gAm
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 1, 2015