A fire has caused a huge plume of smoke to billow into the sky above south London.
About 100 firefighters are battling the blaze at some railway arches near Elephant and Castle station which began shortly before 13:45 BST.
One man is being treated by ambulance crews and local residents have reported hearing a number of explosions.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said three commercial units were alight along with six cars and a telephone box.
People living in the area have been warned to keep doors and windows closed and all trains have been stopped from running through Elephant and Castle.
Fifteen fire engines were called to the scene, with the fire thought to have started in some garages close to the railway station.
Anthony King, told the BBC he was about to catch his train home when he saw smoke coming out of a car mechanics and “after about five-to-six minutes, canisters went up”.
The 51-year-old said the fire had then spread to the adjoining arches and “there was acrid smoke going up as high as the new towers”.
Sara Scarpa, 25, who lives in nearby apartment building Hurlock Heights, said: “We opened the window for a sec as you could hear people shouting, and we smelt something very, very strong.
“The smoke (was) dying down a little… we heard an explosion and now it started again,” she said.
Alex Lecki, who works in a restaurant in Elephant and Castle, said his entire building had been evacuated.
“We saw smoke billowing out… The smoke pillar started enveloping the apartment blocks as well and we kept hearing intermittent bangs,” the 30-year-old said.
He added that police had “indicated it could be some time” before they would be allowed to return.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown but the Met said it was “not believed to be terror related”.
The force added that “significant road closures” were in place and people had been advised to avoid the area.
“The station has been evacuated and residential evacuations are taking now place,” it said.
Thameslink said trains between St Albans and Sutton and between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks were affected by the closed rail lines.
Travellers have been advised to use buses, London Underground services, trams or some trains run by Southeastern, Southern, and South Western Railway.
Source: BBC
