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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/23/chaos-as-charing-cross-station-is-closed-due-to-gas-leak
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| 'Chaos' as Charing Cross station is closed due to gas leak | 'Chaos' as Charing Cross station is closed due to gas leak |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds evacuated from central London nightclub and hotel after fire crews detected high levels of natural gas | Hundreds evacuated from central London nightclub and hotel after fire crews detected high levels of natural gas |
| Guardian staff and agencies | Guardian staff and agencies |
| Tue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMT | Tue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMT |
| Last modified on Tue 23 Jan 2018 07.33 GMT | |
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| London’s Charing Cross station has been closed due to a “large” gas leak in a nearby area, rail operators and the fire brigade said, prompting the police to evacuate hundreds of people from a hotel and a nightclub. | London’s Charing Cross station has been closed due to a “large” gas leak in a nearby area, rail operators and the fire brigade said, prompting the police to evacuate hundreds of people from a hotel and a nightclub. |
| “Around 1,450 people have been evacuated from a nearby hotel and a nightclub,” the London Fire Brigade said on Tuesday morning, adding that firefighters were assisting police at a ruptured gas main in Craven Street off the Strand, WC2. | “Around 1,450 people have been evacuated from a nearby hotel and a nightclub,” the London Fire Brigade said on Tuesday morning, adding that firefighters were assisting police at a ruptured gas main in Craven Street off the Strand, WC2. |
| Witnesses described “chaos” as doormen at the Heaven nightclub ordered them to leave after the alarm was raised, while guests at the hotel were moved into emergency accommodation. | Witnesses described “chaos” as doormen at the Heaven nightclub ordered them to leave after the alarm was raised, while guests at the hotel were moved into emergency accommodation. |
| The fire brigade said it received a call at 2am, and that two fire engines and two fire rescue units and around 20 firefighters were at the scene. | The fire brigade said it received a call at 2am, and that two fire engines and two fire rescue units and around 20 firefighters were at the scene. |
| Fire crews using detection equipment have identified high levels of natural gas in the atmosphere, it said. | Fire crews using detection equipment have identified high levels of natural gas in the atmosphere, it said. |
| An LFB spokesman said: “We are assisting police on the Strand after a ruptured gas main was discovered. | An LFB spokesman said: “We are assisting police on the Strand after a ruptured gas main was discovered. |
| “We do not know the cause of the gas leak at this stage. It is ongoing and engineers are down at the scene trying to isolate the leak. There are still high readings of natural gas in the area. | “We do not know the cause of the gas leak at this stage. It is ongoing and engineers are down at the scene trying to isolate the leak. There are still high readings of natural gas in the area. |
| “We are working to sort it out as quickly as possible.” | “We are working to sort it out as quickly as possible.” |
| Emergency services are dealing with the incident and a cordon and road closures are also in place, Network Rail said. | |
| Some services may be delayed or cancelled as a result, it said, adding that the station would be reopened as soon as it gets clearance from emergency services. | Some services may be delayed or cancelled as a result, it said, adding that the station would be reopened as soon as it gets clearance from emergency services. |
| Rail services are expected to resume by noon, Southeastern railway said on its website. Waterloo East station was also closed because trains are unable to turn around on that stretch of line before reaching Charing Cross. | |
| UPDATE: #LondonCharingCross is likely to be closed for some time following a gas leak nearby. The exclusion zone is in place until the emergency services are satisfied it can be lifted. For more information & to check your journey https://t.co/Y82MoNc4dU pic.twitter.com/GSzlmhmJYY | UPDATE: #LondonCharingCross is likely to be closed for some time following a gas leak nearby. The exclusion zone is in place until the emergency services are satisfied it can be lifted. For more information & to check your journey https://t.co/Y82MoNc4dU pic.twitter.com/GSzlmhmJYY |
| Transport for London tweeted that “A4 Strand/Northumberland St is closed” between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street. | Transport for London tweeted that “A4 Strand/Northumberland St is closed” between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street. |
| Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible” “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside,” one wrote on Twitter. | Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible” “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside,” one wrote on Twitter. |
| Another, Chloe-Mai, said: “Lots of people trying to leave at the same time. as soon as the word evacuation was heard from security staff everyone was trying to get out as fast as possible.” | Another, Chloe-Mai, said: “Lots of people trying to leave at the same time. as soon as the word evacuation was heard from security staff everyone was trying to get out as fast as possible.” |
| A Network Rail spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience. | A Network Rail spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience. |
| Reuters and Press Association contributed to this report | Reuters and Press Association contributed to this report |
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