London fire: Blaze breaks out at Mandarin Oriental Hotel

A fire broke out at a five-star hotel in central London on Wednesday afternoon sending huge plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Eyewitness Sarah Bashir filmed footage of smoke rising from the 12-storey Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the exclusive Knightsbridge area of the city.

TV presenter Anna Whiteley a took to Twitter to announce that she had been evacuated from the hotel.

"Just evacuated Mandarin Oriental hotel to see this... absolutely crazy! So impressed by the organisation in bringing everyone to safety," she wrote on Twitter.

London Fire Brigade said 15 fire engines and 97 fire fighters had been sent to tackle the blaze.

"The Brigade's 999 control officers have taken more than 35 calls to the fire, which is producing a lot of smoke," a spokesperson from the London Fire Brigade said.

"The Brigade was called at 15.55. Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Battersea and other surrounding fire stations are at the scene.

"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."

Firefighters tackle a blaze at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in central London on June 6, 2018. A fire broke out at London's Mandarin Oriental hotel, with dozens of firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze that pumped smoke high into the air over the British capital. / AFP / Ben STANSALL

Rooms at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental cost around £600 a night and the hotel, which has been open for 115 years, recently underwent a costly refurbishment.

The hotel lies near Hyde Park opposite famous department store Harvey Nicholls and is owned by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group based in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for the Mandarin Oriental said: "We are aware that there is a fire at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, and that the fire brigade is at the hotel.

"As the situation is still unfolding, we have no further details to share at this time, but will provide an update soon."

The hotel has previously been used by high profile politicians as well as members of the British royal family.

The Queen hosted an event at the Mandarin Oriental for British and foreign royals ahead of the wedding of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011.

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