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Fire shuts Channel Tunnel traffic | Fire shuts Channel Tunnel traffic |
(20 minutes later) | |
A fire on a freight train in the Channel Tunnel, linking England and France, has forced the suspension of rail services until Friday. | A fire on a freight train in the Channel Tunnel, linking England and France, has forced the suspension of rail services until Friday. |
Thirty-two people on board the train were led to safety although French police said eight people suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. | |
The blaze broke out at 1400 GMT about 11km (7 miles) from the French entrance, the operator Eurotunnel said. | The blaze broke out at 1400 GMT about 11km (7 miles) from the French entrance, the operator Eurotunnel said. |
French firefighters have now brought the blaze under control. | French firefighters have now brought the blaze under control. |
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map">See graphic of Channel TunnelThe fire was detected about four-fifths of the way through the 31 mile-long tunnel on a freight shuttle travelling from Folkestone to Calais. | |
Guide to Channel Tunnel | Guide to Channel Tunnel |
The lorry, which is understood to have overturned on the train, was reportedly carrying the chemical phenol. | |
The incident resulted in "minor injuries" but no-one was seriously hurt, Eurotunnel officials said. | |
"A train is now on its way from France to pick up the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France," a UK police spokesman said. | "A train is now on its way from France to pick up the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France," a UK police spokesman said. |
The French train company SNCF said services would not resume until Friday. | The French train company SNCF said services would not resume until Friday. |
The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused casualties. | |
Security exercises are staged in the Channel Tunnel by police, fire and ambulance services from both England and France to ensure preparedness for such an incident. | Security exercises are staged in the Channel Tunnel by police, fire and ambulance services from both England and France to ensure preparedness for such an incident. |
In four months in 2007 Eurotunnel carried more than 340,000 lorries and 2.2 million passengers. | In four months in 2007 Eurotunnel carried more than 340,000 lorries and 2.2 million passengers. |
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Have you been affected by this incident? Were you due to travel through the Channel Tunnel today? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by this incident? Were you due to travel through the Channel Tunnel today? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
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At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |