More than 1,300 flights will likely get affected following the closure of London’s Heathrow Airport due to a nearby fire that resulted in power outages and caused widespread disruption for thousands of travellers, CNN reported on Friday, citing data from tracking website FlightRadar24,
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade said in a statement that a transformer within an electrical substation in Hayes, in west London, was alight. Ten fire trucks and around 70 firefighters were responding to the blaze, it added.
“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible”, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne reportedly said, adding, “The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption.”
The statement noted that firefighters led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precautionary measure, a 200-metre cordon was set up, with around 150 people evacuated.
Mentioning that nearly 200 calls had been handled, the London Fire Brigade said in its statement that it would be a prolonged incident, with disruption expected to increase as they head into the morning.
The London Fire Brigade urged people to avoid the area wherever possible, while noting that the cause of the fire was unknown.
