London’s Heathrow Airport has been forced to shut down temporarily following a massive fire outbreak that led to a widespread power outage across the facility.
According to airport authorities, the incident has caused significant disruption, with hundreds of flights canceled and thousands of passengers affected. Officials have warned that the airport may take days to fully resume operations.
“Heathrow is currently experiencing a significant power outage due to a fire outbreak,” the airport operator stated on its website. “We are working diligently to restore services, but for now, the airport will remain closed until just before midnight on Friday.”
Authorities have strongly advised travelers not to head to the airport until further notice. “Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until operations resume,” the statement emphasized.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne provided more details on the situation, explaining that the fire has caused major disruptions not just within the airport but also in nearby areas. “The fire has led to a power outage impacting a large number of homes and local businesses,” he said. “We are working closely with our partners to minimize disruption as much as possible.”
The fire was first reported at approximately 11:23 pm, and emergency responders have been working tirelessly to contain it. “This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are operating under challenging conditions to bring the situation under control as swiftly as possible,” an official statement from the fire brigade confirmed.
Further updates are expected as officials continue their investigation into the cause of the fire and work towards restoring normal airport operations.