London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, was closed early Friday after it lost power because of a fire at a nearby electricity substation, the airport’s operator said.
Heathrow said it would be closed until 11:59 p.m. local time. It was not immediately clear how many flights would be affected.
Dozens of firefighters were trying to put out the blaze at the substation in Hayes, in western London, the London Fire Brigade said in a statement. A large number of businesses and homes had lost power, it said, without providing a number.
Around 150 people were evacuated from the area around the substation, Pat Goulbourne, assistant commissioner at the fire brigade, said in a statement.
Fire crews will be on scene throughout the night, Mr. Goulbourne said, adding, “As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”
This is a developing story that will be updated.
