Hundreds of drivers were forced to flee the Dartford Tunnel on Thursday after reports of a van catching fire.
The suspected blaze was reported around 4pm and the tunnel was evacuated, causing long queues and forcing drivers from their cars as five fire engines arrived.
Frightened motorists were forced to walk along the side of the tunnel and were separated from their cars for more than an hour while emergency services cleared the danger.
Others queued for a similar length of time in the traffic which built up during the emergency.
When fire crews arrived they found the van was ‘heavily smoking’ because of an engine fault.
There were no injuries.
A grandmother in her 40s was among those who had to leave their cars and walked through the 0.8mi tunnel with her newborn grandson.
She said after entering the Dartford Crossing around 4pm the traffic slowed to a stop and people shouted at them to evacuate.
Motorists were forced out of their cars on to the side of the tunnel as they were told to evacuate
Traffic piled up outside the tunnel in the northbound direction, towards Essex
A van was ‘heavily smoking’ in the tunnel, leading to the evacuation before it was recovered and the crossing opened just after 6pm
According to Kent Online, around 200 people had to leave the tunnel and around 50 cars were stuck inside.
National Highways said around 5.30pm that there was six miles of congestion and delays of an hour.
The grandmother told the outlet her family had been cared for by National Highways during the emergency, saying: ‘They were ever so kind. They even got a van and took us back to their base, where we could have a cup of tea.’
She added: ‘The main thing is everybody was safe, and we all got out safe, and I presume whoever was driving the burning vehicle got out safely too.’
When she returned to her car it was undamaged and her family continued on their journey to Lakeside, Essex.
X user Adel posted two videos of drivers leaving the tunnel with the caption: ‘Oh what a wonderful Thursday. Evacuated out of Dartford Tunnel.
‘In my ten years of doing this commute, this is certainly a first!’
Graham Vaughn posted a picture and a video on Facebook and said: ‘Everyone evacuated. Fire suppression system. Can only guess that something is on fire in there.
‘Sheet of water coming down from ceiling. Couldn’t see infront of it. My cars at the other end… What fun.’
Both tunnels were reported as open just after 6pm and the van had been recovered.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We were called to assist following reports of a van alight on the Dartford Crossing.
‘Five fire engines attended, and on arrival, a van was found to be heavily smoking due to an engine fault.
‘No injuries were reported.’
