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| Holborn fire: 2,000 people evacuated from offices as smoke fills central London streets | Holborn fire: 2,000 people evacuated from offices as smoke fills central London streets |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings in central London this afternoon as toxic smoke filled the streets. | More than 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings in central London this afternoon as toxic smoke filled the streets. |
| The Metropolitan Police declared a "major incident" after blocks housing businesses and part of the London School of Economics were cleared by the emergency services. | The Metropolitan Police declared a "major incident" after blocks housing businesses and part of the London School of Economics were cleared by the emergency services. |
| As the smoke spread, the Royal Courts of Justice housing the High Court and Court of Appeal also had to be evacuated, along with some nearby West End theatres. | |
| Underground fire in Holborn, central London. pic.twitter.com/6Az4djVXF9 | Underground fire in Holborn, central London. pic.twitter.com/6Az4djVXF9 |
| Firefighters said power cables had started a fire beneath the pavement in Holborn and they could not put it out until the current was switched off. | |
| The London Fire Brigade is currently working with utility companies to find the source of the blaze, which appeared to be worsening four hours after it began. | The London Fire Brigade is currently working with utility companies to find the source of the blaze, which appeared to be worsening four hours after it began. |
| Footage from a Sky News helicopter captured flames bursting out of one manhole in a closed off road after a gas main ruptured underground. | Footage from a Sky News helicopter captured flames bursting out of one manhole in a closed off road after a gas main ruptured underground. |
| A video posted by Mike Austin (@semi_bionic_man) on Apr 1, 2015 at 7:39am PDT | A video posted by Mike Austin (@semi_bionic_man) on Apr 1, 2015 at 7:39am PDT |
| Photos from the scene showed the air filled with dark smoke that appeared to be streaming from potholes and underground vents. | Photos from the scene showed the air filled with dark smoke that appeared to be streaming from potholes and underground vents. |
| People were seen pouring out of offices, restaurants, cafes and shops while roads were cordoned off by the emergency services. | People were seen pouring out of offices, restaurants, cafes and shops while roads were cordoned off by the emergency services. |
| Onlookers described "crazy scenes" and "madness" as smoke rose so high in the air that it could be seen from the Shard skyscraper. Around 2,000 people were evacuated because of the smoke. Photo: Yanni/Twitter | Onlookers described "crazy scenes" and "madness" as smoke rose so high in the air that it could be seen from the Shard skyscraper. Around 2,000 people were evacuated because of the smoke. Photo: Yanni/Twitter |
| "Holborn is chaos. All the manholes on Kingsway are smoking," Jordan Hatch wrote on Twitter. | |
| There have been no reports of any injuries but a witness told the BBC the air was difficult to breathe. | |
| “I had just cycled over Waterloo Bridge and as I approached Kingsway I saw a big crowd of people and smoke billowing towards me," he said. | |
| "The fire crews and police officers were beginning to cordon off the area. I was close enough to see thick black smoke puffing out of the drain grills and I struggled to breathe.” Toxic smoke filled the streets around Holborn. Photo: Aidan McGaughey | |
| Several buildings have also suffered power cuts due to the blaze, forcing some companies to send staff home, and Holborn Tube station has been closed. | |
| A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade warned that the situation in Holborn will get worse until electricity companies switch off the power and firefighters can put out the flames. | A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade warned that the situation in Holborn will get worse until electricity companies switch off the power and firefighters can put out the flames. |
| “When cables burn they produce a great deal of toxic smoke and it’s not safe to be playing around with live cables,” he added. Students from LSE were evacuated during the blaze. Photo:Yasmine Hafiz | |
| The alarm was raised at around 12.40pm after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on the pavement in Kingsway. | |
| A 25 metre safety cordon resulted in around 2,000 people being evacuated from nearby buildings, including the Civil Aviation Authority’s headquarters. | A 25 metre safety cordon resulted in around 2,000 people being evacuated from nearby buildings, including the Civil Aviation Authority’s headquarters. |
| Around 70 firefighters and 10 engines are currently at the scene ready to tackle the blaze and police are advising drivers to avoid the area as road closures continue. | Around 70 firefighters and 10 engines are currently at the scene ready to tackle the blaze and police are advising drivers to avoid the area as road closures continue. |
| Transport for London said Holborn Underground station would remain closed until the power supply was fixed and warned that closures on Kingsway and in the Strand Tunnel were causing queues back to Trafalgar Square. | Transport for London said Holborn Underground station would remain closed until the power supply was fixed and warned that closures on Kingsway and in the Strand Tunnel were causing queues back to Trafalgar Square. |
| There are concerns that performances of West End shows including The Lion King, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Play That Goes Wrong may have to be cancelled and ticket holders are urged to call the box office. |