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| Channel Tunnel disruption goes on | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Thousands of passengers hoping to travel through the Channel Tunnel face further disruption after a fire on a freight train. | |
| The tunnel is closed after the fire broke out about seven miles from Calais on Thursday afternoon. Fire fighters are still tackling the blaze. | |
| Thirty-two people on board were led to safety. Fourteen had suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. | Thirty-two people on board were led to safety. Fourteen had suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. |
| Eurostar said it "did not expect" to operate any services on Friday. | |
| See graphic of Channel Tunnel | See graphic of Channel Tunnel |
| Groom among stranded passengersGuide to Channel Tunnel | Groom among stranded passengersGuide to Channel Tunnel |
| The French Interior Ministry said the UK-bound lorry, which is understood to have overturned on the shuttle train, was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. | |
| Although fire crews are still working to put out the fire, the situation is said to be under control. | |
| Chief Fire Officer Bill Feeley of Kent Fire and Rescue Service said on Thursday that about 100 of his firefighters were tackling the blaze. | |
| "The fire itself, because it's in a tunnel, it's in a confined space, produces a lot of smoke and a lot of heat for our firefighters to contend with. | "The fire itself, because it's in a tunnel, it's in a confined space, produces a lot of smoke and a lot of heat for our firefighters to contend with. |
| "We're working from one end as the French fire service works from the other, and I know they've been in audible contact, so that's how close they are." | "We're working from one end as the French fire service works from the other, and I know they've been in audible contact, so that's how close they are." |
| A train was sent to collect the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France. | A train was sent to collect the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France. |
| The Foreign Office said seven of those evacuated from the tunnel were British. | The Foreign Office said seven of those evacuated from the tunnel were British. |
| The French state train company SNCF said its services would not resume until Friday. | The French state train company SNCF said its services would not resume until Friday. |
| The tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. | The tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. |
| Travel chaos | Travel chaos |
| Traffic built up at the British end of the tunnel, with queues of lorries and cars tailing from the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone. | Traffic built up at the British end of the tunnel, with queues of lorries and cars tailing from the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone. |
| Kent police have closed junctions eight to nine of the coastbound section of the M20 and sections of the motorway have been used to queue lorries as part of Operation Stack. | Kent police have closed junctions eight to nine of the coastbound section of the M20 and sections of the motorway have been used to queue lorries as part of Operation Stack. |
| The Highways Agency has told motorists to expect delays of up to an hour on the M20. | The Highways Agency has told motorists to expect delays of up to an hour on the M20. |
| Motorists at the Channel Tunnel entrance were being given vouchers by staff to board ferries at Dover. | Motorists at the Channel Tunnel entrance were being given vouchers by staff to board ferries at Dover. |
| Channel Tunnel passengers on 'nightmare' journey | Channel Tunnel passengers on 'nightmare' journey |
| Some of the stranded passengers said Eurostar has agreed to reimburse them for their stays overnight in London. | Some of the stranded passengers said Eurostar has agreed to reimburse them for their stays overnight in London. |
| A spokesman said anyone who had been unable to use the tickets because of the fire would be given as much help as possible with continuing their journey. | A spokesman said anyone who had been unable to use the tickets because of the fire would be given as much help as possible with continuing their journey. |
| Eurolines, which is part of National Express, said it had capacity to take Eurostar passengers to Paris and Brussels by coach, via cross-Channel ferry services. | Eurolines, which is part of National Express, said it had capacity to take Eurostar passengers to Paris and Brussels by coach, via cross-Channel ferry services. |
| The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. | The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. |
| In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. | In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. |
| The fire caused £200m worth of damage burned for over five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. | The fire caused £200m worth of damage burned for over five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. |
| 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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