Major chaos hits Heathrow travellers after car fire sparks tunnel lockdown
Early Morning Blaze Sparks Tunnel Shutdown
Passengers heading to Heathrow Airport faced major travel havoc this morning after a car burst into flames inside an East Ramp tunnel near the M4. The fiery incident erupted in the early hours of Monday, sparking an emergency scramble. Two fire engines rushed to the scene, finding the car fully alight and badly damaged.
The London Fire Brigade said they were called just before 3am and had the blaze under control by 3:45am. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, though paramedics from the London Ambulance Service also attended as a precaution. Fire crews wrapped up their work shortly after 4:30am.
“We were called just before 3am today to reports of a car fire in a tunnel near Heathrow Airport. Firefighters attended and discovered a car fully alight. The fire was safely extinguished, and no one was reported to be injured.” – London Fire Brigade spokesperson
M4 Clampdown Sends Traffic Into Meltdown
The blaze forced National Highways to close the M4 southbound from Junction 4 to 4A. This sparked long queues and chaos on alternative routes. Drivers were urged to dodge the snarls by using M25 Junction 14 or M4 Junction 3 to reach Heathrow.
Metro’s traffic maps revealed thick jams building up westbound too, as cars crawled around diversions. The diesel-powered vehicle’s fire, inside the tunnel, caused major headaches for morning commuters. Though the tunnel has since reopened, the traffic chaos is still felt.
Terminals 2 and 3 Road Access Hit
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson confirmed the fire disrupted road access to Terminals 2 and 3. They said:
“An earlier vehicle fire affecting road access to Terminals 2 and 3 has now been resolved. All roads have now reopened, but there continues to be some congestion around the airport. We apologise for the disruption caused this morning.”
Travellers were told to add extra journey time and opt for public transport if possible.
Rail Services Also Hit By Trackside Fire
Adding to travellers’ misery, National Rail reported disruption between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 4 thanks to a separate trackside fire. Luckily services have now returned to normal.
Delays Still Lingering
Though the smoky drama is over, serious queues remain on surrounding roads, piling pressure on the morning rush. Commuters and flyers alike are urged to check live travel updates and leave plenty of wiggle-room for their journeys.
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