A major fire broke out in the immediate vicinity of Glasgow Central Station in Scotland, causing significant disruption to transport and the evacuation of part of the city center. The fire started in a commercial building on Union Street, just a few meters from the station, before quickly spreading throughout the entire structure.
The flames reportedly first engulfed the ground floor of a multi-story building that housed, among other things, an e-cigarette shop. The blaze then spread to the upper floors and the roof, fueled by various materials present in the building.
Glasgow Central station closed as a precaution
Due to the fire's immediate proximity to the station, authorities decided to completely close Glasgow Central Station, Scotland's largest. All train services were suspended, and numerous rail services were canceled or rerouted.
Hundreds of travelers were affected by the disruption, as the station is a key hub in the British rail network. Passengers were advised to postpone their journeys or use alternative transportation while emergency services responded.
An old building severely damaged
The building affected by the fire, an old building located in the center of Glasgow, was heavily damaged by the flames. Under the intense heat, part of the structure collapsed during the firefighters' intervention.
At the height of the blaze, more than 60 firefighters and several specialized vehicles were mobilized to control the flames. The response teams notably used aerial ladders to reach upper floors and prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings.
Authorities quickly established a large security perimeter around the disaster area. Several streets in the city center, including Gordon Street and Hope Street, were closed to traffic.
Shops, hotels, and buildings in the vicinity were also evacuated as a precaution. Large plumes of smoke were visible across much of central Glasgow for several hours.
No casualties reported, but significant disruptions
Despite the scale of the fire and the partial collapse of the building, authorities reported no casualties. Emergency services continued working for many hours to secure the area and fully extinguish the blaze.
Rail disruptions could continue for some time while technical teams assess the damage and check the integrity of the infrastructure around Glasgow Central station, a major rail transport hub in Scotland.
