Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the world, has been forced to shut down following a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation. The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, caused a significant power outage, leaving the airport unable to operate. Officials have confirmed that the closure will remain in effect until at least Saturday morning, with over 1,300 flights impacted and tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
The fire, which broke out in Hayes, just 1.5 miles from the airport, led to the evacuation of approximately 150 people from nearby properties. The London Fire Brigade deployed 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to tackle the blaze, which sent towering flames and thick black smoke into the night sky. While the fire has been brought under control, the damage to the electrical substation has left Heathrow without a reliable power supply.
Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport under any circumstances until operations resume. British Airways, which operates a significant number of flights from Heathrow, has canceled all flights and is working to rebook affected passengers. Inbound flights have been diverted to other airports across the UK and Europe, causing widespread disruption to global travel schedules.
The closure has also had a ripple effect on local businesses and residents, with thousands of homes experiencing power outages. Emergency services are working closely with energy providers to restore power and minimize further disruption.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. For now, passengers and airlines alike are left grappling with the chaos, hoping for a swift resolution to this unprecedented disruption at one of the world's most vital transportation hubs.
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