LONDON: A fire broke out at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel on Tuesday, with dozens of firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze that pumped smoke high into the air over the British capital.
The fire brigade said “around 100 firefighters are tackling a large fire at a hotel of 12 floors in Knightsbridge,” a luxury area of central London where Harrods department store is located.
The fire service said the blaze was “producing a lot of smoke” and was “very visible” and its cause “is not known at this stage.”
The fire in London is the mandarin oriental hotel in Knightsbridge pic.twitter.com/tMrVTOUF3j
— Jack (@jackwmartin_) June 6, 2018
Smoke appears on the London skyline as fire takes hold at London’s Mandarin Oriental hotel. (Arab News Photo)
Something is on fire in central #London. pic.twitter.com/JgFGq1em8t
— AleLM (@AleLopezMiranda) June 6, 2018
Firefighters were called to the fire at 1455 GMT.
Roads were closed off at Scotch Corner and Hyde Park Corner, busy junctions near the hotel — an Edwardian-style building that opened its doors in 1902 and was bought by Mandarin Oriental in 1996.
The hotel has 198 rooms and suites. The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London recently completed a multi million pound restoration, the most extensive restoration in its 115 year history. In celebration, the hotel was offering an exclusive package to guests for the summer, including spa and room benefits.
Police and support units manage the outcome of the blaze at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge. (AFP)
Writer Juno Dawson tweeted: “Well that was drama. The Mandarin Oriental is literally on fire. Evacuated mid photoshoot. Hope everyone is ok. It was the construction site on the roof that seemed to be on fire.”
The singer Robbie Williams was among dozens of guests swiftly evacuated onto the streets of Knightsbridge.
Firefighters tackle a blaze at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in central London. Over a hundred firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze that pumped smoke high into the air over the British capital. (AFP)
The hotel is popular with Gulf visitors, given its Knightsbridge address and its proximity to Harrods.
The London Fire Brigade said firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, are currently searching the property to make sure no one is inside.
