More than 100 fire officers battled a major blaze which tore through a block of restaurants and flats in Notting Hill this morning.
At least 16 people escaped as a stretch of the upmarket Westbourne Grove shopping street was sealed off.
Hamid Razi, 44, who owns Persian cafe Sadaf, said the blaze began in basement restaurant Tiroler at just before 7am, and spread to the shops, restaurants and flats above.
He described hearing an explosion at about 8.30am today, about an hour and a half after the fire brigade were called.
He said: “It’s horrible to build a ten year business and then for it to burn in front of my eyes. I saw all my pictures and my history burning. When it happened I was crying.
"It’s a business of many, many families.
“They tried to access it but there was too much fire. The restaurant is completely gone. Even the top flat is gone."
The restaurateur, who also owns the Fresco restaurant next door, estimated the damage and loss of earnings at “probably a million, maybe more”.
He added: “It’s summertime, it’s a busy time for us. But it’s the history...I put all my life in it.”
He said a plaque he had bought from his native Iran that hung in the restaurant had cost more than £1,000 alone.
London Fire Brigade sent 15 fire crews and 100 firefighters from across London, and advised people to avoid the area.
Station Manager Keith Carmichael said: “This is a difficult fire to fight due to there being a partial ceiling collapse which is reducing access to the seat of the fire.”
The cause is being investigated.
