On Sunday, March 8, a fire broke out in the city center of Glasgow, a major city in Scotland, leading to the collapse of a building near Glasgow Central Station. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and rescue operations are ongoing. As of now, there have been no reports of casualties.
According to various media reports, on Sunday afternoon local time, residents witnessed smoke coming out of a building next to Glasgow Central Station’s entrance, followed by an explosion and fire that quickly spread throughout the entire building.
The fire originated from an e-cigarette shop on Union Street, in a building named Union Corner, which has four floors and was built in 1851. Despite being a historic building listed as a Grade II protected structure, the iconic Victorian architecture’s dome collapsed in the blaze.
Witnesses described the scene as “catastrophic” on social media. Videos circulating online show flames shooting up into the sky, thick smoke filling the air, and the night sky illuminated by a red glow.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received a call around 3:45 pm local time and dispatched six firefighting teams to the scene. However, due to the ferocity of the fire, it continued into the evening, with over 60 firefighters and 15 fire engines working to extinguish the blaze at one point.
Several shop owners inside the building confirmed that their businesses were destroyed in the fire. The Voco Grand Central Hotel within the station was evacuated urgently, and all guests were relocated to another hotel in the city.
Following the fire, the National Rail company canceled all train services to and from the high-level areas of the station, announcing the indefinite closure of the station until further notice that evening. Railway transportation is expected to be significantly impacted on Monday.
While there have been no reports of casualties, a large crowd has gathered at the scene. Despite emergency services urging people to stay away, many individuals continue to gather near the cordon on Renfield Street and Gordon Street to observe the ongoing situation.
Police have blocked off sections of Gordon Street and St Vincent Street and set up detour routes around the affected area.
Glasgow Central Station is Scotland’s busiest station. Elevated platform trains are all suspended, and trains passing through the underground platforms will not stop at the station.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern about the fire near Glasgow Central Station and extended his gratitude to all emergency responders involved in the rescue efforts.
Network Rail stated around midnight that, “At this point, we have not identified any significant damage to the station. As daylight breaks, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment.”