London's Heathrow Airport shuts down due to power outage caused by fire

London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest, will remain closed throughout Friday following a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. 

"Expect significant disruption over coming days, passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," Heathrow Airport said in statement. 

In a statement on X, the airport confirmed the disruption: “Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.” 

The London Fire Brigade reported that a transformer inside the substation caught fire, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were deployed to the scene. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne stated, “Firefighters have led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established, with around 150 people evacuated.” 

"Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored," the airport added. 

Passengers have been advised to avoid traveling to the airport and to check with their airlines for updates. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and further updates are expected. 

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/latest-updates/londons-heathrow-airport-shuts-down-due-to-power-outage-caused-by-fire/articleshow/119282086.cms