More than 2,000 people evacuated after electrical fire breaks out in Kingsway, Holborn
More than 2,000 people have been evacuated from offices near Holborn after a cable fire erupted under the pavement on Kingsway.
Around 70 firefighters have attended the electrical fire which forced the cancellation of a number of West End shows.
Police have declared it "a major incident". Kingsway has been closed at both ends and motorists have been told to find alternative routes.
The Royal Courts of Justice and parts of the London School of Economics are among the buildings to have been evacuated. Both Temple and Holborn Tube Station were shut, but have since been reopened.
But the fire crews are waiting for utility companies to disconnect the power supplies before they are able to start tackling the blaze. As of 4pm, LFB said it was still trying to identify the source of the fire.
Crowds forming by the police cordon (Source: Getty)
Police and firefighters were on the scene. Luckily no one has been injured (Source: Getty)
The fire was coming from underground, but fire crews were unclear of the cause (Source: Getty)
The alarm was raised this afternoon after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on the pavement. No injuries have been reported.
https://twitter.com/LondonFire/status/583267976192901120
https://twitter.com/LondonFire/status/583270973706788864
https://twitter.com/LondonFire/status/583284424185421824/photo/1
Some social media users posted images of the scene – plenty of smoke, but also definitely flames coming from manholes – while others explained why no work was being done:
https://twitter.com/stuarthandmodel/status/583285196398596096
https://twitter.com/seancornwell/status/583278000952762369
https://twitter.com/emsalily/status/583280907773181952
https://twitter.com/eagilmour/status/583281298103496704
https://twitter.com/m0ggman/status/583281918784991232
https://twitter.com/IBwan/status/583283165273448449
It may have ruined Wednesday afternoon work (goshdarnit) but it has helped enhance the atmosphere of local eateries.
https://twitter.com/gogmagog/status/583284117825064960
More follows…