Huge gas leak near the Strand sparks evacuation from central London nightclub and hotel
Around 1,450 people have been evacuated from a nightclub and a hotel, while a major railway station is closed after a gas main ruptured in the Strand, central London.
Witnesses described “chaos” as doormen at the Heaven nightclub ordered them to leave after the alarm was raised at around 2am, while guests at the hotel were moved into emergency accommodation.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was called to the scene at after high levels of natural gas were detected at the scene in Craven Street near Charing Cross station.
The Strand, a major route through central London, has been closed entirely and a 150m cordon put in place while National Grid engineers try to isolate the leak.
An LFB spokesman said: “We are assisting police on the Strand after a ruptured gas main was discovered using detection equipment and high levels of natural gas were detected in the atmosphere.
“As a precaution, approximately 1,450 people have been evacuated. They are from a hotel and a night club.
“The Strand is completely closed and we are asking people to avoid the area.
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“We do not know the cause of the gas leak at this stage. It is ongoing and engineers are down at the scene trying to isolate the leak. There are still high readings of natural gas in the area.
“We are working to sort it out as quickly as possible.”
Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible” after they were told to get out.
I’m staying at amba hotel at Charing cross. The whole hotel was evacuated. We’re now relocated to a nearby hotel out o the leaking zone. #gasleak
— Tavinho Costa (@tavinhocosta) January 23, 2018
One person wrote on Twitter: “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside.”
Another, Chloe-Mai, said: “Lots of people trying to leave at the same time. as soon as the word evacuation was heard from security staff everyone was trying to get out as fast as possible.”
A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “Charing Cross station is currently closed owing to a gas leak in a nearby road.
“We will reopen the station as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
Commuters trying to get into London for work have taken to Twitter to vent about delays and cancellations as a result of the leak.
Of course, the one day where I have to be somewhere on time, all the trains are delayed! Thanks @Se_Railway
— Josie Jackson (@officialjosiej) January 23, 2018
@Se_Railway why do your staff at Bromley North continually fail to announce any travel disruptions at Grove Park. I got to Grove Park to find trains are all cancelled to Charing Cross with no prior warning. This happens again and again – why? #southeastern #fail
— Natasha (@En_Neem) January 23, 2018
So why has our driver now said he’s not sure whether we’ll be going to Charing Cross or Waterloo East?
— Eloise Smith (@EloiseTutu) January 23, 2018
OF COURSE this would be the morning I need to use Charing Cross tube station to get to a client meeting
— Lisa Wade (@fenwench) January 23, 2018
was actually going to go to university today but the whole of charing cross/waterloo is closed because of a gas leak, it’s a sign
— ciara (@cuddlememila) January 23, 2018
Gas leak at Charing cross, trains are a mess.
— i. (@_ImaniW_) January 23, 2018
Members of public have been told to keep away as a cordon has been put in place and motorists have been advised to avoid the area as a number of roads have been closed.
Cadent Gas said engineers were on site on Craven Street behind Charing Cross station to try to locate the gas escape.
A spokesman added: “We are working with the emergency services and a safety precaution an exclusion zone has been put in place.
We are working on a gas escape on Craven Rd behind Charing Cross Stations. Both stations & Strand remain closed for the moment.
— Cadent (@CadentGasLtd) January 23, 2018
We can confirm there was a reported gas leak near Charing Cross station this morning. 263 guests and team members on the property were promptly evacuated on the advice of the emergency services. 1/2
— Amba Hotels (@amba_hotels) January 23, 2018
“The Amba Hotel, nearby flats, offices and Charing Cross stations were evacuated. Craven Street and the Strand from Duncannon Street junction to Trafalgar Square is closed.”
It is the second time in recent weeks that hundreds of people have been evacuated in London due to a gas leak following an incident on Horseferry Road in Westminster on January 9.
Brett Loft, LFB spokesman and station manager at Chelsea, said he could not be sure how long the roads will remain closed, saying it depends on how long it takes gas authorities to find and seal the leak.
He said: “It has happened a few times recently.
“With the ageing pipes in London there is an ongoing programme at the moment to replace all the pipework.
“It’s just one of those things. It happens.”
Mr Loft said there is no danger to the public.