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Charing Cross and Strand shut down by gas leak
More than 1,400 evacuated from the West End overnight
Emergency services are urging the public to avoid the Strand and the Charing Cross area following a major gas leak.
The streets around the station have been cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians since the early hours of the morning. Both the rail and underground stations remained closed during the morning rush hour.
As of 8.30am, the Strand and some surrounding streets are still closed to cars, although limited pedestrian access is being permitted. Charing Cross rail and underground stations remain closed, while Waterloo East is also affected by the exclusion zone.
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The Westminster branch of the Metropolitan Police said in a tweet that they expected the travel disruption to last “some time”.
In a statement, Southeastern rail estimated that its services to Charing Cross and Waterloo East would be affected until around midday:
London Fire Brigade said that they have identified a ruptured gas main as the source of the “high levels” of natural gas being released into the air.
The leak was detected on Craven Street, which runs alongside Charing Cross station, at around 2am.
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Around 1,400 people, including more than 1,000 inside the Heaven nightclub, were evacuated, according to a statement from Westminster Council.
Witnesses told Sky News there was “chaos” as doormen ordered clubbers to leave the busy venue in the early hours.
Another 350 people were evacuated from other buildings and a hotel on the street.
A respite centre has been set up at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria, while some local hotels were able to provide emergency accommodation for those evacuated.
