The blast happened in a car park near Wimbledon station (Picture: Getty Images)
A man has been taken to the hospital after an explosion rocked Wimbledon, south London.
The contents of a van exploded when the vehicle struck the roof of a car park near Wimbledon station at around 10am.
The blast, on the busy high street Queens Road, left the driver in his 60s with burns.
Around 100 people were evacuated from the Wimbledon Quarter shopping centre, the fire brigade told Metro.
The blast happened on Queens Road (Picture: Google Maps)
The cause of the blast is unclear, but the police confirmed to Metro that it is not thought to be terror-related.
Photographs shared on Reddit from the scene show a mangled grey van inside the car park. The back doors have been blown open, and debris, including scraps of a taillight and a candle lighter, can be seen.
No fire damage can be seen on the vehicle or the surrounding area.
Wimbledon Underground station and railway services remain open.
Queens Road remains closed in both directions between Princes Road and A219 The Broadway.
Bus route 200, which serves Lamton Road in Hounslow and Mitcham Fair Green, is on a detour.
Transport for London (TfL) said in a notice: ‘Buses are diverted via Alexandra Road, Gap Road and Haydons Road.’
The police said: ‘At 10.10am on Monday (November 17), officers responded to reports of an explosion on Queens Road, Wimbledon.
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro’s London news hub.
‘Police, the London Ambulance Service, and the London Fire Brigade attended the scene and found that the contents of a van had exploded after the vehicle is believed to have struck the roof of a car park.’
Paramedics from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) – who deal with environmental risks – were also dispatched, the London Ambulance Service told Metro.
The service added: ‘We treated a man at the scene for burns and took him to hospital as a priority.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow
MORE: A much-needed change is coming to London Stansted Airport: ‘Overdue an upgrade’
Arrow
MORE: ‘Peaceful’ town at London’s furthest tube stop where houses are £150,000 cheaper
Arrow
MORE: Full list of UK stations closed over Christmas with 2,500 trains disrupted
Comment now
Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google
The Diaspora Dish
We’re cooking up something magical… Join the family, and look forward to exclusive interviews and unforgettable recipes.
