Huge M25 lorry fire leaves thousands of drivers facing major delays

Hundreds of drivers are dealing with lengthy delays after a Tesco lorry burst into flames on the M25.

The blaze broke out between junction 5 and junction 6 at round 10pm on Sunday, between Sevenoaks in Kent and Godstone in Surrey.

All clockwise lanes are closed, with drivers heading northwest in the direction of West London suggested to hunt different routes. It’s more likely to stay closed till a minimum of noon on Monday, Nationwide Highways mentioned.

A spokesperson added: “Specialist restoration can be required and the highway floor will seemingly should be resurfaced.” They add that the carriageway will seemingly be closed “all through the day.”

The incident concerned a Tesco heavy items automobile which could be seen engulfed in flames on CCTV footage. No accidents have been reported.

Dashcam footage from the scene exhibits the second the Tesco lorry set alight on collision with a junction barrier on the left-hand facet of the highway.

Sharing the footage on social media, eyewitness Anthony Moc wrote: “Proper in entrance of me. Practically died.”

“If I used to be driving on the outer lane and never behind I’d have died,” he shared.

Surrey Fireplace and Rescue mentioned it despatched 5 hearth engines and two water carriers to the lane, because the highway was closed in each instructions. The anti-clockwise carriageway has now reopened, however lanes three and 4 stay closed inside junction 6.

The Authorities-owned firm added: “There are extreme delays on all approaches.”

The M26 westbound between junction 2A has additionally been closed, together with the M25’s junction 5 which connects the foremost highway to the M26 and A21.

Robert Bell, community operations supervisor for Nationwide Highways within the South East, has suggested that drivers ought to keep away from the realm the place attainable.

He mentioned: “The difficult nature and in depth harm these incidents have precipitated means the closures are going to run into tonight’s commute and my recommendation is to please plan your journey, enable additional time, and keep away from the realm if you happen to probably can.

“We’ve got diversions in place however resulting from these incidents impacting one another there’s already vital disruption within the surrounding areas and we anticipate this to worsen as we transfer in the direction of the night commute.”

Heading clockwise, delays approaching the M25 are lasting 90 minutes, whereas heading clockwise it’s 45 minutes.

For highway customers who have been planning on travelling clockwise, a diversion route has been established. They’re suggested to comply with the diversion signage that may take them onto the A21, A25, and A22 earlier than rejoining the M25 in the direction of Gatwick.

Anybody who was planning to make use of the M26 can be suggested to make use of the M20 to hitch the M25, however is cautioned that in a single day roadworks overrunning at east Dartford tunnel (heading northbound) is inflicting extreme delays on the route.

In the meantime, a separate incident on the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex can be inflicting main congestion.

Nationwide Highways mentioned the northbound Dartford east tunnel is closed as in a single day roadworks overran as a result of a upkeep automobile broke down inside it, requiring emergency resurfacing works.

It mentioned there’s a “giant spillage throughout the tunnel”, which is able to “stay closed all through the day”.

Mr Bell mentioned: “Getting these roads open is our absolute precedence and we’re doing every little thing we are able to to make that occur.

“The M25 and the Dartford crossing are main components of the strategic highway community, and we perceive the inconvenience and disruption any closure has. We admire folks’s endurance and understanding whereas these vital repairs are undertaken.”