A massive fireball believed to have been caused by an exploding van close to a popular shopping centre has sent black smoke billowing into the sky, shocking morning commuters in the area.
Several firefighters are at the scene near Westquay Shopping Centre in Southampton, where several people are understood to have been evacuated from the food hall for their own safety. Photos from the scene show firefighters dowsing the charred remains of a van parked close to the popular shopping centre. It is currently unknown what caused the vehicle to suddenly catch alight and explode, shocking morning commuters and shoppers.
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Witness Emily Robinson told the Southern Daily Echo: âIt is a big pillar of smoke. It looks like quite a large fire. There seemed to be at one point a big bang.
“That could have come from the fire. There was a fire engine that came down at speed past the bus I was on, so the fire crew are on their way.
âI was just wondering what was really going on. Especially because we have had so many fires recently.â
Owing to the location of the vehicle, near the Podium car park. some had mistakenly believed the fire had come from the building itself. People reported walking to work when they heard the explosion this morning.
Photos from the scene show a large group of people watching the ongoing incident as firefighters attempted to fight the blaze. which appears to have started in the back of the van.
A cordon kept them away from the flames, as the fire was put out.
One witness said: “I was right by the explosion, was there just as the flames started, there was a couple of us trying to signal the guys who were the workers of the truck.
“There wasnât much they could do by the time they noticed it was on fire. I definitely wasnât getting close.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “This was a vehicle fire on Harbour Parade, reported at 9.37am. The fire service are leading on this incident and police are assisting with road closures.”
A spokesman for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said: “Crews from St Maryâs, Redbridge and Hightown are currently in attendance at a vehicle fire following reports of smoke and flames at the back of Westquay, Southampton at just after 9.30am this morning.
“People are asked to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident. Harbour Parade is closed in both directions.”
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