A huge plume of black smoke was seen rising over east London on
Monday noon and reports said a large fire broke out in the
Stratford area.
The center of the fire was in a disused building of a bus depot
off Waterden road due to be demolished as part of 2012 Olympic
Games, the Sky Television reported .
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) confirmed that the fire was
within the Olympic site.
"The fire is on the western edge of the Olympic Park on the site
of an empty warehouse, behind the bus depot on Waterden Road," it
said. "The warehouse is in the process of being demolished."
"The London Fire Brigade is on site and the ODS's site staff are
working closely with them," it added.
The fire brigade said that 15 fire engines and more than 70 fire
fighters had been sent to the scene. And the London Ambulance
Service said there were no reports of any casualties.
The Scotland Yard said that it is investigating the incident but
have so far discounted a terrorist motive.
"We have nothing to suggest that this anything other than a fire
at the moment," said a police spokesman.
A Network Rail spokesman said that services on the North London
railway line had resumed after a temporary suspension between
Dalston and Stratford because of the thick smoke, but trains are
not stopping at Hackney Wick station.
The blaze has not disrupted any flights from nearby London City
Airport. "There's smoke drifting southwards but it is not
interfering with our operations as aircraft continue to arrive and
depart," an airport spokesman said. "However, we will continue to
monitor the situation closely."
(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2007)
