A massive fire at a west London substation has led to Heathrow Airport's closure for the day, with 70 firefighters tackling the blaze and evacuating 150 people. The fire, following a large explosion Thursday night, caused widespread power outages, including in nearby hotels.
Massive fire at west London substation leads to Heathrow shutdown and evacuations
A major fire broke out at an electricity substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport on Friday, forcing the airport to close for the entire day.
Approximately 70 firefighters are working to control the blaze in Hayes, which has led to the evacuation of around 150 people and caused widespread power outages across parts of west London.
Social media footage shows flames soaring hundreds of feet into the air at the North Hyde electricity substation on Nettles Avenue.
The London Fire Brigade received nearly 200 emergency calls after reports of a large explosion around 11:23 p.m. on Thursday, March 20.
The fire has disrupted hundreds of properties near Heathrow, with some hotel guests posting on X (formerly Twitter) about the loss of power. One user wrote: "I’m at a hotel near Heathrow and we’re out of power," while another tweeted: "So this is why my Heathrow hotel has no power!"
An Air India flight with 242 passengers on board crashed in Meghaninagar, close to Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, on Thursday afternoon.
Five people were taken to hospital with stab wounds and later arrested after a violent incident at a music event in Thamesmead, southeast London.
British police have charged Abdullah Sabah Albadri, 33, with preparing a terrorist act and possessing knives after he allegedly tried to breach the Israeli embassy’s grounds in west London.
Thousands have protested outside the UK Supreme Court after a ruling limited the legal definition of a woman to biological sex, raising concerns among trans rights advocates.
The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new sanctions targeting Iran’s defence supply chain and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, intensifying efforts to block the flow of sensitive military technology and illicit oil revenues fueling regional instability.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Switzerland has announced the lifting of a wide array of economic sanctions on Syria, including measures targeting the country’s central bank. The move follows a series of international steps aimed at supporting Syria’s recovery after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new sanctions targeting Iran’s defence supply chain and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, intensifying efforts to block the flow of sensitive military technology and illicit oil revenues fueling regional instability.
Tesla has secured a major agreement to build its first grid-scale battery storage station in China, local media outlet Yicai reported Friday.
Iran has fired a new round of missiles at Israel, with reports of strikes in several locations, as tensions between the two countries continue.
The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new sanctions targeting Iran’s defence supply chain and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, intensifying efforts to block the flow of sensitive military technology and illicit oil revenues fueling regional instability.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
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