A brave police officer was seen rescuing two children from a huge fire that broke out at London's Elephant and Castle station.
Dramatic footage shows the cop scooping up the two kids, holding them in each of his arms as he leaves the burning building behind them.
Six people were treated at the scene and one was taken to hospital after being injured when the fire broke out in the arches near the railway station at about 1.45pm on Monday.
Fifteen engines and around 100 firefighters were called to the fire, which engulfed three commercial units underneath the arches, setting them "completely alight", London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
The station was evacuated and the fire was brought under control by 3.30pm, the force said.
But "significant road closures" remain in place and people are being asked to avoid the area.
Pictures and video posted social media show smoke billowing close to the station - visible across the capital - as the fire ravaged the units. .
One dramatic clip appears to show a fireball bursting out of a unit under the station, forcing onlookers to move.
One witness reported hearing a "fireball explosion", while another said there were was a "big explosion... and it exploded twice"..
Six cars and a telephone box were also alight, LFB said.
Abdullah Safi, 21, who works at Chatkhara restaurant, was on his way to the Sainsbury's nearby to the station when he saw the flames.
"I saw so much smoke. The fire was burning so high, about 50ft, so I started recording on my phone.
"Suddenly there was a big explosion, so I ran away. I ran back to my restaurant. I wasn't hurt or anything. I've never felt so much heat and so much smoke at once.
"I've never seen something that big - I was scared. And it exploded twice."
According to some reports, the fire broke out at an auto repair shop.
A mechanic who works in the garage told the Sun: “We all had to run out of the shop. I didn’t see how it started.
“There were six of us in the shop at the time. We left all our things in there and had to run. I could see flames about seven metres high.
“My phone is still in there and all my things. There are three cars in there now and other things that can explode so I don’t think we will be allowed back.”
Alex Leckie, 30, assistant manager at Tupi who was at the scene when the fire broke out, said: "The entire building was evacuated, we began to smell smoke and the store owner went to check, we saw smoke billowing out and what I'm told is the mechanics were on fire, the smoke pillar started enveloping the apartment blocks as well and we kept hearing intermittent bangs.
"The police have indicated it could be some time (until they are allowed back inside). They have repeatedly pushed the crowds back even from the Castle Square Park and cordoned off the roads, there is a very, very heavy presence.
"At this point emergency crews have everyone well clear of the area."
The cause of the fire is yet unknown but the Metropolitan Police said it is not believed to be terror related.
