Huge fire breaks out near the O2 after filmed explosion rages ‘out of control’
A huge fire erupted across the river from London’s O2 Arena after a controlled blast on a film set raged ‘out of control’.
People living nearby posted photos and video clips of the blaze onto social media after hearing ‘loud bangs and explosions’.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed a van was destroyed at an open air yard in Silvertown, east London, with a car and lorry also damaged.
They said the blaze was under control in around an hour and no injuries were reported.
LFB posted on X on Saturday evening saying: ‘The fire in #Silvertown followed a controlled explosion at a film set which spread out of control. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire, which is now under control.
‘Crews will remain on scene for the remainder of the evening.’
The Metropolitan Police said the blasts were ‘part of a pre-planned filming event’ in the area and ‘there is no risk to the public’.
Last week, the Royal Borough of Greenwich warned residents not to be alarmed by ‘a loud explosion’ due to take place the following evening, August 24, as part of some filming in the area but it was initially unclear whether this incident was linked to a similar event.
One, Christopher Golds, posted: ‘Some sort of huge explosion in East London on the opposite side of the Thames to the O2. Emergency services already there.’
Another, Sasha Stolp, said: ‘There has just been a series of explosions opposite the O2.’
And Valley Fontaine posted: ‘What were those two loud bangs and black smoke near O2?’
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