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| Channel Tunnel shut after blaze | Channel Tunnel shut after blaze |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Channel Tunnel has been closed after a fire broke out on a freight train about seven miles from Calais. | |
| Thirty-two people on board the train were led to safety although French police said eight people suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. | 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. |
| The blaze has been brought under control but trains have been suspended in both directions. | |
| See graphic of Channel TunnelThe fire was detected about four-fifths of the way through the 50km-long north tunnel on a freight shuttle travelling from Folkestone to Calais. | See graphic of Channel TunnelThe fire was detected about four-fifths of the way through the 50km-long north tunnel on a freight shuttle travelling from Folkestone to Calais. |
| Guide to Channel Tunnel | Guide to Channel Tunnel |
| The French Interior Ministry said the lorry, which is understood to have overturned on the train, was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. | The French Interior Ministry said the lorry, which is understood to have overturned on the train, was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. |
| The incident resulted in "minor injuries" but no-one was seriously hurt, Eurotunnel officials said. | 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 state train company SNCF said services would not resume until Friday. | The French state train company SNCF said services would not resume until Friday. |
| It is understood that no trains are stuck in the tunnel. | It is understood that no trains are stuck in the tunnel. |
| Travel chaos | Travel chaos |
| Traffic has begun building up at the British end of the tunnel, with television pictures showing queues of lorries and cars tailing from the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone. | Traffic has begun building up at the British end of the tunnel, with television pictures showing queues of lorries and cars tailing from the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone. |
| As a result of the suspension, it is possible that the police may have to implement Operation Stack, where sections of the motorway are used to queue lorries. | As a result of the suspension, it is possible that the police may have to implement Operation Stack, where sections of the motorway are used to queue lorries. |
| Meanwhile, passengers waiting to board trains at London's Kings Cross terminal are being told to come back in the morning when it will be first-come, first-served to get on the trains. | Meanwhile, passengers waiting to board trains at London's Kings Cross terminal are being told to come back in the morning when it will be first-come, first-served to get on the trains. |
| Long queues were reported earlier but the crowds are starting to disperse. | Long queues were reported earlier but the crowds are starting to disperse. |
| BBC reporter Sophie Van Brugen was stranded in the Channel Tunnel | BBC reporter Sophie Van Brugen was stranded in the Channel Tunnel |
| Clive Evans and Albert Cole were on board a Eurostar train to Brussels to stay with friends for the week when their journey was terminated. | Clive Evans and Albert Cole were on board a Eurostar train to Brussels to stay with friends for the week when their journey was terminated. |
| Mr Evans said: "We got as far as Ashford and they said 'You're not going any further. You can either get off here and get the ferry to France' - God knows where the ferry goes from in Ashford - 'or you can go back to London.'" | Mr Evans said: "We got as far as Ashford and they said 'You're not going any further. You can either get off here and get the ferry to France' - God knows where the ferry goes from in Ashford - 'or you can go back to London.'" |
| He said: "We've just got back [to London]. It's total chaos. They say they can't put us up in hotels because there's too many of us. It's total disorder." | He said: "We've just got back [to London]. It's total chaos. They say they can't put us up in hotels because there's too many of us. It's total disorder." |
| The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused casualties. | 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 incidents. | Security exercises are staged in the Channel Tunnel by police, fire and ambulance services from both England and France to ensure preparedness for such incidents. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| 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. |