London travel chaos: FOUR major stations EVACUATED due to 'emergency' overcrowding
FOUR major London Tube stations were evacuated this evening due to emergency overcrowding, which sparked rush hour travel chaos.
Tubes did not stop at King's' Cross, Euston Square, Oxford Circus and Warren Street following the alert, according to reports.
Emergency alarms sounded through London's major stations as an automated message urged people to evacuate.
Pictures posted online show crowds of people huddled inside and outside the capital' busiest stations.
The evacuations sent the Tube network into chaos as rush hour commuters attempted to make their way home from work.
Kings Cross station has been evacuated
Rush hour commuters are huddled outside
Kings cross has been closed due to overcrowding..no tubes are stopping at the station
— m������������ (@M_relle) November 30, 2016
Oh @tfl @SadiqKhan #oxfordcircus closed, overcrowding, #kingscross closed, overcrowding. Now stuck here for 20 mins #highburyandislington pic.twitter.com/8NiLYwU5pl
— racheltyson (@Tysonrachel) November 30, 2016
Whole of #KingsCross underground evacuated in an emergency.
The station doors were closed while large crowds of people gathered outside on the cold streets of London.
Frustrated passengers took to social media to describe the chaos, with some suggesting the evacuation had taken place due to overcrowding.
One Twitter user posted: "Whole of #kingscross underground evacuated in an emergency. Not sure why. Huge crowds leaving at rush hour."
Another tweeted:"#KingsCross evacuated in rush hour. Surprisingly everyone was quick getting out."
"Kings Cross evacuation is likely due to 'overcrowding' - Londons transport system is basically obsolete and not fit for purpose," a commuter added.
Others laid into Transport for London (TfL), claiming the overcrowding problems were now a regular occurrence.
Crowds gather outside in the cold at London's Oxford Circus station
One commuter said: "There must be a better way to close Euston without causing panic by announcing an emergency on repeat, needlessly scary.
Another added: "Scary evacuation at Euston underground. Why are staff shouting head to the exit as quickly as possible?
"Evacuation announcement on a loop".
Video filmed by passengers show sirens being sounded over the PA system along with a message telling people to leave the station.
3 STATIONS NOW CLOSED #WarrenStreet #EustonSquare #KingsCross pic.twitter.com/RZDmyp6Hlx
— Parky (@PA7KY) November 30, 2016
I'm too cold for this ������������#kingscross #travel #tfl #update pic.twitter.com/nBmnozVNLs
— Zipporah Gene (@shedoesliving) November 30, 2016
Commuters reported waits of around 45 minutes while staff attempted to control the crowds.
A TfL spokesman told Express.co.uk: "The station is currently closed for crowd control."