A massive fire broke out in a building near Scotland’s busiest railway station, prompting evacuations and major disruptions to rail services.
Flames engulfed a historic Victorian building adjacent to Glasgow Central Station on the afternoon of Sunday, March 8, leading to a partial collapse after several hours as the fire spread rapidly.
The fire is believed to have started in a vape shop on Union Street, according to BBC reports. The building, known as “Union Corner,” was constructed in 1851 and is located at the intersection of Union Street and Gordon Street, making it older than the station itself, which opened in 1879.
Authorities announced that all rail services at the city’s main station have been canceled. According to National Rail, there is currently no clear timeline for when the station might reopen.
Several businesses operating in the building have reported complete destruction. Café Sexy Coffee posted on social media that their premises were “destroyed by the fire,” calling the situation “heartbreaking” for staff and loyal customers over the years.
The owner of a hair salon in the same building also confirmed that her business was completely destroyed by the fire.
Meanwhile, the Voco Grand Central Hotel, located within the station complex, was evacuated, and guests were relocated to another hotel in the city.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service urged the public to avoid the area as firefighting operations continued into the early hours of Monday morning.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed that he was “deeply concerned” by the fire and called on citizens to follow the instructions of emergency services.
So far, authorities report no injuries, while emergency teams continue to work at the scene.
