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'Chaos' as Charing Cross station is closed due to gas leak Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations closed by gas leak
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds evacuated from central London nightclub and hotel after fire crews detected high levels of natural gas Engineers tackling incident which also caused evacuation of a London club and hotel
Guardian staff and agencies Damien Gayle and agencies
Tue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMTTue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMT
Last modified on Tue 23 Jan 2018 07.33 GMT Last modified on Tue 23 Jan 2018 08.32 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 and a wide cordon placed around it after a “large” gas leak prompted the evacuation of a nearby hotel and 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. The London fire brigade said that almost 1,500 people were taken to safety as firefighters helped police at a ruptured gas main in Craven Street, off the Strand, close to Trafalgar Square.
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 Strand was closed entirely on Tuesday morning and a 150-metre cordon put in place while National Grid engineers tried to isolate the leak.
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. One witness described “chaos” at the Heaven nightclub, beneath Charing Cross station, as doormen ordered visitors to leave after the alarm was raised. Guests at the hotel were placed in temporary accommodation.
Fire crews using detection equipment have identified high levels of natural gas in the atmosphere, it said. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was called to the scene at 2am. Brett Loft, LFB spokesman and station manager at Chelsea, said he could not be sure how long the roads would remain closed, saying it depended on how long it took to find and seal the leak.
An LFB spokesman said: “We are assisting police on the Strand after a ruptured gas main was discovered. “It has happened a few times recently. With the ageing pipes in London there is an ongoing programme at the moment to replace all the pipework. It’s just one of those things. It happens.”
“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. Loft said there was no danger to the public.
“We are working to sort it out as quickly as possible.” Southeastern, the rail company that handles routes into Charing Cross, said some morning trains would be diverted to other destinations, “but there will be cancellations on our Charing Cross routes and also on other lines which share our routes to Charing Cross”.
Emergency services are dealing with the incident and a cordon and road closures are also in place, Network Rail said. Waterloo East station was also closed because trains were unable to turn around on that stretch of line before reaching Charing Cross. Rail services were expected to resume by noon, Southeastern said on its website.
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/GSzlmhmJYYUPDATE: #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. A spokesperson for Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure, said: “Both Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations are currently closed owing to a gas leak in a nearby road. We will reopen these stations as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
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. Transport for London tweeted that: “A4 Strand/Northumberland St is closed” between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street.
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.” Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible”. On wrote on Twitter: “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside.”
A Network Rail spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience.
Reuters and Press Association contributed to this report
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