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| Holborn fire: Chaos as 2,000 people evacuated to escape toxic smoke in central London | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| More than 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings in central London this afternoon as toxic smoke filled the streets. | More than 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings in central London this afternoon as toxic smoke filled the streets. |
| The Metropolitan Police declared a "major incident" after blocks housing businesses and part of the London School of Economics were cleared by the emergency services. | The Metropolitan Police declared a "major incident" after blocks housing businesses and part of the London School of Economics were cleared by the emergency services. |
| As the smoke spread, Holborn Tube station was closed and the Royal Courts of Justice also had to be evacuated along with some nearby West End theatres, meaning shows were at risk of being cancelled. | As the smoke spread, Holborn Tube station was closed and the Royal Courts of Justice also had to be evacuated along with some nearby West End theatres, meaning shows were at risk of being cancelled. |
| The #Holbornfire is now under control around 21 firefighters will remain at the scene into the night to monitor. pic.twitter.com/2L4OhT0MdO | The #Holbornfire is now under control around 21 firefighters will remain at the scene into the night to monitor. pic.twitter.com/2L4OhT0MdO |
| Underground fire in Holborn, central London. pic.twitter.com/6Az4djVXF9 | Underground fire in Holborn, central London. pic.twitter.com/6Az4djVXF9 |
| After battling the fire for around nine hours, the London Fire Brigade has tweeted to say that the blaze is under control, but around 21 firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to monitor the situation. | After battling the fire for around nine hours, the London Fire Brigade has tweeted to say that the blaze is under control, but around 21 firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to monitor the situation. |
| Benedict Cumberbatch's appearance at Letters Live at the Freemasons' Hall was among the events called off. | Benedict Cumberbatch's appearance at Letters Live at the Freemasons' Hall was among the events called off. |
| Firefighters said the fire started among power cables beneath the pavement in Holborn and they could not put it out until the current was switched off. | Firefighters said the fire started among power cables beneath the pavement in Holborn and they could not put it out until the current was switched off. |
| The blaze was believed to have originated in a service duct that carries gas, electric and water through the capital. | The blaze was believed to have originated in a service duct that carries gas, electric and water through the capital. |
| The London Fire Brigade worked with utility companies to find the source of the fire, which appeared to be worsening hours after it began. Around 2,000 people were evacuated because of the smoke. Photo: Yanni/Twitter | The London Fire Brigade worked with utility companies to find the source of the fire, which appeared to be worsening hours after it began. Around 2,000 people were evacuated because of the smoke. Photo: Yanni/Twitter |
| Footage from a Sky News helicopter captured flames bursting out of one manhole in a closed off road after a gas main ruptured underground. | Footage from a Sky News helicopter captured flames bursting out of one manhole in a closed off road after a gas main ruptured underground. |
| Photos from the scene showed the air filled with dark smoke that appeared to be streaming from potholes and underground vents. | Photos from the scene showed the air filled with dark smoke that appeared to be streaming from potholes and underground vents. |
| People were seen pouring out of offices, restaurants, cafes and shops while roads were cordoned off by the emergency services. | People were seen pouring out of offices, restaurants, cafes and shops while roads were cordoned off by the emergency services. |
| Onlookers described "crazy scenes" and "madness" as smoke rose so high in the air that it could be seen from the Shard skyscraper. | Onlookers described "crazy scenes" and "madness" as smoke rose so high in the air that it could be seen from the Shard skyscraper. |
| A video posted by Mike Austin (@semi_bionic_man) on Apr 1, 2015 at 7:39am PDT | A video posted by Mike Austin (@semi_bionic_man) on Apr 1, 2015 at 7:39am PDT |
| "Holborn is chaos. All the manholes on Kingsway are smoking," Jordan Hatch wrote on Twitter. | "Holborn is chaos. All the manholes on Kingsway are smoking," Jordan Hatch wrote on Twitter. |
| There have been no reports of any injuries but a witness told the BBC the air was difficult to breathe. | There have been no reports of any injuries but a witness told the BBC the air was difficult to breathe. |
| “I had just cycled over Waterloo Bridge and as I approached Kingsway I saw a big crowd of people and smoke billowing towards me," he said. | “I had just cycled over Waterloo Bridge and as I approached Kingsway I saw a big crowd of people and smoke billowing towards me," he said. |
| "The fire crews and police officers were beginning to cordon off the area. I was close enough to see thick black smoke puffing out of the drain grills and I struggled to breathe.” Toxic smoke filled the streets around Holborn. Photo: Aidan McGaughey | "The fire crews and police officers were beginning to cordon off the area. I was close enough to see thick black smoke puffing out of the drain grills and I struggled to breathe.” Toxic smoke filled the streets around Holborn. Photo: Aidan McGaughey |
| Several buildings also suffered power cuts due to the blaze, forcing some companies to send staff home, and Holborn Tube station was closed. | Several buildings also suffered power cuts due to the blaze, forcing some companies to send staff home, and Holborn Tube station was closed. |
| Students from LSE were evacuated during the blaze. Photo:Yasmine Hafiz The alarm was raised at around 12.40pm after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on the pavement in Kingsway. | Students from LSE were evacuated during the blaze. Photo:Yasmine Hafiz The alarm was raised at around 12.40pm after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on the pavement in Kingsway. |
| A 25 metre safety cordon resulted in around 2,000 people being evacuated from nearby buildings, including the Civil Aviation Authority’s headquarters. | A 25 metre safety cordon resulted in around 2,000 people being evacuated from nearby buildings, including the Civil Aviation Authority’s headquarters. |
| At one point, around 70 firefighters and 10 engines were at the scene, as police advisd drivers to avoid the area due to road closures. | At one point, around 70 firefighters and 10 engines were at the scene, as police advisd drivers to avoid the area due to road closures. |
| Transport for London said Holborn Underground station would remain closed until the power supply was fixed and warned that closures on Kingsway and in the Strand Tunnel were causing queues back to Trafalgar Square. | Transport for London said Holborn Underground station would remain closed until the power supply was fixed and warned that closures on Kingsway and in the Strand Tunnel were causing queues back to Trafalgar Square. |
| Performances of West End shows including Mamma Mia at the Novello,The Lion King at the Lyceum, Beautiful at the Aldwych, Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess, Charlie and the Choloate Factory at Drury Lane, Woman in Black at the Fortune, and Gypsy at the Savoy were cancelled according to London Theatre Direct. | Performances of West End shows including Mamma Mia at the Novello,The Lion King at the Lyceum, Beautiful at the Aldwych, Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess, Charlie and the Choloate Factory at Drury Lane, Woman in Black at the Fortune, and Gypsy at the Savoy were cancelled according to London Theatre Direct. |