Heathrow Airport will be closed throughout the entire day on Friday due to a significant blaze at an adjacent electrical substation that powers it.
A "major power failure" at the airport is due to the fire, according to a statement released by Heathrow.
"In order to ensure the safety of our travelers and staff, Heathrow will remain closed until 23:59 on March 21st," the statement read.
"Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience."
A blaze at the substation located in Hayes, which is part of western London, has resulted in numerous households being deprived of electricity and approximately 150 individuals being relocated from nearby areas.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been sent to tackle the blaze, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
A 200-meter perimeter has been established as a safety measure, and locals have been urged to keep their entrances and exits shut due to "a substantial quantity of smoke."
Over 16,300 residences have been affected by a major power outage triggered by the wildfire, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' statement on X.
"We have noticed a significant outage impacting numerous customers in the Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby regions," the statement further noted.
The London Fire Brigade reported receiving close to 200 emergency calls regarding the blaze, which erupted shortly after midnight on Thursday.
The emergency services were summoned to the location at 11:23 PM. The origin of the blaze has not been identified as of yet.
"This is a very noticeable and important event, with our firefighters exerting themselves immensely under difficult circumstances to gain control over the blaze as quickly as they can," stated LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulborne.
"This incident will last for an extended period, with the crew staying on site through the night," he said.
As we move through the morning, disruptions are anticipated to rise, and we strongly advise individuals to stay away from the region whenever feasible.
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