A serious fire broke out at a restaurant in the heart of London's West End on Thursday afternoon, triggering a major emergency response and sending five people to hospital.
More than seventy firefighters from the London Fire Brigade were dispatched to tackle the intense blaze, which engulfed a commercial building on the bustling Charing Cross Road, a stone's throw from Leicester Square tube station.
Dramatic images and videos from the scene showed thick, black smoke billowing into the sky above central London, visible from miles away. Fire crews worked tirelessly, using multiple fire engines and specialist equipment to bring the inferno under control.
Emergency Response and Casualties
London Ambulance Service confirmed that five individuals were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation before being transported to hospital for further care. Their current conditions are not yet known.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade stated: "Firefighters are working hard to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and will be investigated in due course."
Local Impact and Disruption
The incident caused significant disruption in the area, a major tourist and theatre district. Police cordoned off sections of Charing Cross Road, and the public was urged to avoid the vicinity while operations continued.
Local businesses and public transport routes experienced delays and closures as emergency services managed the incident. The scale of the damage to the building is yet to be fully assessed.
