A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, a London suburb, has caused widespread power outages and significant disruptions, including the temporary closure of London’s Heathrow Airport. The London Fire Brigade has confirmed the fire is now under control, though they will continue to monitor the situation and conduct investigations into the cause of the blaze.
The fire, which forced Heathrow to close, has had far-reaching effects on global air travel, with the aviation industry facing potential financial losses in the “hundreds of millions of pounds.” Aviation expert Shukor Yusof predicts the disruption could last days, or even weeks, as the airport works to resolve the backlog of flights that were canceled or delayed.
The situation is expected to cause significant chaos, especially as Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports, and the ripple effects will likely extend beyond the UK, affecting international travel.