A large number of emergency services were called to a block of flats in Croydon on Wednesday evening following reports of a major gas leak. The incident, which began shortly before 6 p.m. at Independence Court on London Road, has prompted extensive evacuations and emergency response efforts.
Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are working closely with officers from the Metropolitan Police to evacuate a number of properties. The residents have been escorted to an emergency rest centre set up outside the affected area, where emergency planning officers are coordinating with local partners to ensure that all evacuees have a safe and warm place to stay.
Specialist teams from Southern Gas Networks have been deployed to isolate the high-pressure main responsible for supplying gas to the tower block and nearby properties. The presence of a strong gas odour had been reported in several units, triggering carbon monoxide alarms, which alerted residents to potential danger.
The Metropolitan Police have established a series of cordons around the site, and both drivers and pedestrians are being advised to avoid the area for their own safety and to aid in emergency operations.
A formal statement from the Metropolitan Police is expected to provide further details on the cause of the leak and the expected duration of the incident.
