Passengers have been evacuated from one of Britain’s busiest stations after a van caught fire – with flames destroying the vehicle as smoke blazed over London.
Onlookers watched as crews tackled the fireball outside St Pancras rail station this morning – as travellers were urged to stay away from the area.
Police were on the scene but Scotland Yard said the London Fire Brigade was leading, after the unexplained blaze reported shortly after 10am today.
The fire has since been extinguished but fire officials said crews remained at the site, ‘dousing off’ the area around the vehicle described as being ‘destroyed’.
The London Fire Brigade said: ‘We were called to one van alight outside St Pancras train station on Midland Road.
‘We were called at 1017 and the incident was under control by 1101. The van was completely destroyed by the blaze.
‘Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Kentish Town fire station were at the scene. Our 999 Brigade Control officers received eight calls alerting them to the fire.’
The brigade said the cause of the fire was under investigation. The vehicle that caught fire was described as ‘certainly not electric’. There were no reported injuries.
Buses nearby were put on diversion while members of the public were advised to avoid the area in central London, near neighbouring King’s Cross station.
The LFB said: ‘Road closures are in place and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.’
Sebastian Oliveira shared footage of the fire on his TikTok account @hairbyseb, captioned: ‘Van on fire at King’s Cross St Pancras this morning.’
MailOnline has approached Network Rail for comment.