Great Portland Street fire sends massive plume of thick black smoke rising over central London
Around 50 firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at a construction site on Great Portland Street in Soho
Around 50 firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at a construction site on Great Portland Street in Soho
More than 70 firefighters were called to battle a huge fire in central London after a blaze on a construction site triggered a series of gas explosions.
Scores of people reported seeing thick plumes of black smoke rising over the capital from miles around.
The blaze took hold after flames sparked explosions involving a number of gas canisters at the construction site on Great Portland Street in Soho at around 12.45pm this afternoon.
The site, which is being developed into a shop and restaurant, is near BBC Broadcasting House and busy Oxford Street.
The road was closed in both directions as 10 fire engines were dispatched to deal with the fire.
London Fire Brigade confirmed it received more than 40 calls reporting the blaze.
A spokesman said: "Ten fire engines and 72 firefighters and officers tackled a fire on a building site on Great Portland Street.
"The Brigade’s control took over forty 999 calls to this visible blaze. Part of the basement, ground, first and second floor of the building under refurbishment was badly damaged by fire.
"A number of gas cylinders were involved in the blaze. As a precaution the cylinders were called down as some can explode when exposed to heat."