Poplar substation fire: DLR and Blackwall Tunnel shut as 38,000 hit by power cut

Dozens of firefighters are tackling a fire at the Poplar electrical substation which left almost 40,000 people without power and closed the DLR and the Blackwall Tunnel.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are at the blaze at the Castor Lane substation, where part of the ground floor of a two-storey building is alight.

The entire Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the Blackwall, Rotherhithe and Limehouse Link Tunnels are all closed as emergency services battle to extinguish the flames.

More than a thousand students were evacuated from a college behind the substation, while hundreds of people were asked to leave a nearby depot, adjacent to the fire.

Emergency services have put a 25-metre cordon in place to keep passersby safe.

Station commander Colin Digby, who is at the scene, said: "The fire is causing power outages which could affect around 38,000 customers.

Firefighters were called at 12.48pm and crews from Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Shadwell and Plaistow fire stations are at the scene.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

In a tweet, a fire brigade spokesperson said: “The closures of the DLR, Blackwall Tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel and roads in the area could cause disruption to travel likely to go into rush hour.

“Please find alternative routes where possible.”

By 7pm, the fire brigade announced that the Limehouse Link and Blackwall Tunnel had reopened but the Rotherhithe Tunnel remained shut.

Which postcodes have been hit by a power cut?

UK Power Networks has said the power cut is affecting E1, E1W and E14.

The E1 power cut includes areas around Whitechapel, Spitalfields, Shadwell and Stepney Green.

The E1W power cut is thought to have hit St Katharine’s Docks and Wapping.

While the E14 power cut has hit parts of Limehouse, Canary Wharf, the Isle of Dogs and Poplar, where the fire is raging.

UK Power Networks estimated that electricity should have returned by 3pm, however many homes are still reporting power outages.

You can also enter your postcode on the UK Power Networks map to check the latest in your area.

More to follow.