The famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is "100%" ablaze, the London Fire Brigade has said.
The famous 19th Century ship the Cutty Sark is "100%" ablaze, the London Fire Brigade has said.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper is being evacuated amid fears gas cylinders onboard could explode.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper is being evacuated amid fears gas cylinders onboard could explode.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic and the Docklands Light Railway shut.
Greenwich town centre in south-east London has been closed to traffic and the Docklands Light Railway shut.
The ship is currently closed to visitors while a £25m renovation is carried out. Eight fire engines have been sent to tackle the fire.
The ship is currently closed to visitors while a £25m renovation is carried out. Eight fire engines have been sent to tackle the fire.
Speaking to BBC News the Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said the fire brigade told him they were treating the fire as suspicious.
Speaking to BBC News the Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said the fire brigade told him they were treating the fire as suspicious.
He said he feared what would be lost in the blaze.
"When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself," he said.
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames, that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
A spokeswoman for the brigade said "100%" of the vessel was ablaze and confirmed there were cylinders aboard but their contents had not been named.
A spokeswoman for the brigade said "100%" of the vessel was ablaze and confirmed there were cylinders aboard but their contents had not been named.
Residents living near the ship are being evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
Residents living near the ship are being evacuated from their homes and taken to a Greenwich hotel, Scotland Yard confirmed.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
The conservation work was being carried out as sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
