London Underground EVACUATED: Euston and Kings Cross SHUT DOWN after fire
LONDON'S Euston and Kings Cross St Pancras Underground stations have been evacuated following two separate fire alerts, with panicked passengers saying they were finding it "hard to breathe" and could smell chemicals.
Kings Cross: Commuters forced to evacuate station in London
Thousands of commuters were ordered to leave the busy central London stations following two fire alerts shortly after 2pm. Emergency services rushed to the stations after witnesses said they heard loud sirens, saw "smoke on the platforms" and could smell the odour of chemicals.
Officers of the British Transport Police (BTP), police and firefighters were in attendance.
The BTP explained the smoke had been caused by a "faulty train" which, passing through both stations on the Victoria Line, sent smoke tunnelling through them.
A BTP spokesman said: "At 2.05pm, officers were called to Euston station following a fire alert on the London Underground.
"Shortly after this, there was a fire alert at Kings Cross station as well.
"Both were on the Victoria line platforms.
"As a precaution, the platforms were evacuated and officers are working closely with Transport for London to re-open the stations as soon as possible."
Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade were also in attendance, as confirmed by a spokesman, who said the service was called at 2.18pm to Kings Cross St Pancras Underground station.
The BTP had previously urged commuters and travellers to remain calm on Twitter: "We've been called to Kings Cross and Euston London Underground stations following a fire alert.
"It looks like the alert was caused by a faulty train.
"No cause for concern and we're working with @TFL to open both stations as soon as possible."
But panicked commuters took to social media writing: "@TfL kings cross has just been evacuated!! Smoke on the platforms it was hard to breathe.
"What's happening TFL loads of people running like their life depended on it!"
Another said: "Euston station evacuated just after a ‘not in service’ Northern line train seemed to spew out smoke that made it hard to breathe."
And a third added: "What’s happened at kings cross station?? All shut got fire engines the lot!"
Both stations were reopened shortly after 3pm.