Heathrow airport closed after fire at nearby power station

New Delhi, Mar 21: Heathrow Airport remains close all day Friday after a fire broke out at an electrical substation supplying power to the airport and nearby areas. The fire, that started Thursday night at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, west London, also left many homes and businesses centres without electricity.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but emergency services were called to the scene immediately. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told the BBC that the fire damaged a backup generator, making it even harder to restore power. Heathrow officials said they do not know when power will be fully restored and have confirmed the airport will be closed atleast on Friday.

The closure has already caused significant travel disruptions  and will likely continue over the coming days. More than 1400 flights have been affected, and passengers have been advised to check with airlines before traveling. While Heathrow remains closed, London’s Gatwick Airport is operating as normal, and some flights originally meant to land at Heathrow have been diverted there.