Around 100 firefighters battled a massive blaze near a train station that caused a heavy plume of smoke over south London.
London Fire Department (LFB) said shortly before 4 p.m. the blaze near Elephant and Castle station was “under control”, but added that its teams would remain in place “for the next few hours to alleviate the scene.”
Dozens of police cars and ambulances also witnessed the blaze, while video of the blaze posted on social media showed an explosion resulting in a flurry of flames.
READ MORE: Tyneside school is the best in the country
James Ryan, commander of the Shoreditch station, told the PA News Agency that a person was first treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
But the London Ambulance Service confirmed that six people ended up being treated at the scene, including one taken to hospital.
Mr Ryan said firefighters were called to the railway arches under Elephant and Castle station, where the fire started inside a garage and spread to several cars and a phone booth outside the garage.
It then ignited further, spreading to three other business units, the LFB said, and the station and neighboring buildings were evacuated.
(Image: PA)
“The smoke that was created by this fire also affected the main Overground station at Elephant and Castle, which was later shut down as a precaution,” Ryan said.
“We had five people who were at the address at the time, who left before the London fire department arrived.”
Rail lines through the station were closed, disrupting Thameslink and Southeast services.
London Underground Northern Line trains were prevented from stopping at Elephant and Castle tube station, but services then returned to normal.
People are urged to avoid the area for the next two hours and residents are to keep their windows and doors closed for the time being until the fire is completely extinguished.
Traffic is slowly resuming as usual in the area.
A spokesperson for Elephant and Castle Town Center, the private organization overseeing a major regeneration project near the fire, said: But not part of our development site.
“As a precautionary measure, all residents of our Elephant Central building, retailers and Castle Square agents at the development site have been evacuated and we will continue to support emergency services and other first responders as the need arises. possible.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his thoughts were “with all those affected by the very serious fire” and thanked the emergency services for their work at the scene.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.