A massive blaze erupted at Westfield Stratford shopping centre, forcing the evacuation of shoppers and prompting a major emergency response. The fire broke out at a multi-storey car park on Montfichet Road in Stratford, sending giant plumes of smoke billowing across the area.
Emergency services deployed 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters to tackle the inferno after receiving the first call at 4:05 PM. Fire crews from Stratford, Poplar, Leytonstone and surrounding stations rushed to the scene, with a 32-metre turntable ladder erected to assist firefighting efforts.
Major emergency response
London Fire Brigade received a total of 35 emergency calls about the incident. A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: "The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and we're advising people to avoid the area at this time."
According to the Daily Mail, a vehicle caught fire on an upper floor of the car park, which emergency services have confirmed as the source of the blaze. The timing coincided with the West Ham versus Tottenham Premier League match, potentially affecting football fans visiting the area.
Ongoing situation
The public has been advised to stay away from the area due to the significant amount of smoke being produced. Aghast onlookers have been uploading footage to social media showing the scale of the emergency, with Bristol Post reporting extensive documentation by football fans and other witnesses providing real-time updates.
Westfield Stratford, one of Europe's largest shopping centres located near the Olympic Park, serves as a major retail destination and transport hub. The incident remains ongoing as firefighters continue to battle the flames.
Sources used: "Daily Star", "Daily Mail", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
