Electric bus bursts into flames on busy London street Wimbledon
The Met Police has declared a critical incident following the fire (Picture: London News Pictures)
An electric double decker bus has caught fire in south London causing chaos during rush hour.
The Met Police has declared a critical incident after it happened at 7am this morning in Wimbledon, London, near the Alexandra pub.
Multiple resources have been dispatched by London Fire Brigade.
Locals reported loud bangs and smoke and have been advised to close their windows and doors due to smoke and fire from the bus.
A new close up image shows a fire ablaze at the back of the electric bus.
London Fire Brigade do not yet know what caused the inferno.
People on social media have been reacting to the news of the electric bus fire this morning.
Roderick Cameron was taking his children to school and posted on X: ‘Not what we expect to see on the school run….
‘Bus on fire – and the fumes are awful….’
A person called Jeff wrote: ‘Give me diesel any day!’
Meanwhile a video from TikTok shows smoke billowing from the bus in the distance taken from the viewpoint of St Mark’s Place, Wimbledon.
Conservative MP for Wimbledon Stephen Hammond posted on X about the bus fire.
He wrote: ‘Emergency services are dealing with an ongoing incident with a bus in Wimbledon Town Centre.
‘Please be aware that journeys may take longer than usual.’
An eyewitness has described coming across the bus fire this morning on her commute.
Tamara Ftouni told Metro: ‘I was driving to work and driving down Wimbledon Village when I saw all the cars turning back.
‘After a couple of minutes further down the road I saw a fire that looked like it was coming from the bus.
‘The smell was very strong and it didn’t look like a small fire.
‘When I took another road to get to work, I drove past the road that the police have completely shut down with a couple of NHS vehicles at the scene.’
The below photos reveal the extent of damage to the bus on the outside.
It shows firefighters by the burnt vehicle which has its upper deck rear windows fully destroyed.
Police and the Fire Brigade attend the scene at Wimbledon Hill Road (Picture: London News Pictures)
There is currently traffic congestion through Wimbledon village southbound and back through the one-way system to the Broadway northbound.
Wimbledon Hill Road is also closed in both directions and is still partially blocked due to the 25m.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: ‘Police were called at 7.23am on Thursday, January 11 to reports of a bus on fire at Wimbledon Hill and Alwyne Road, SW19.
‘Officers, London Fire Brigade attended. At the scene a bus had caught fire. Road closures and cordons are in place. We expect them to remain for some time.
‘There were no reported injuries. We thank the local community for their patience and cooperation as emergency services work at the scene. If possible please avoid the area.’
London Fire Brigade said in a statement to Metro: ‘Firefighters have been called to a fire involving a bus on Wimbledon Hill Road in Wimbledon.
‘Part of a double-decker electric bus is alight. A 25-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution and road closures are in place. There are currently no reports of any injuries.
‘The Brigade was called at 0721. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Wimbledon, New Malden and Wandsworth fire stations are at the scene.’
Locals in the area of Wimbledon Hill reported hearing bangs and saw smoke billowing from the bus.
Max Pashley, a resident, told City AM: ‘We heard a huge bang. We were terrified’.
Credit: metro