A huge plume of black smoke was seen rising over east London on Monday noon and reports said a large fire broke out in the Stratford area.

 

The center of the fire was in a disused building of a bus depot off Waterden road due to be demolished as part of 2012 Olympic Games, the Sky Television reported .

 

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) confirmed that the fire was within the Olympic site.

 

"The fire is on the western edge of the Olympic Park on the site of an empty warehouse, behind the bus depot on Waterden Road," it said. "The warehouse is in the process of being demolished."

 

"The London Fire Brigade is on site and the ODS's site staff are working closely with them," it added.

 

The fire brigade said that 15 fire engines and more than 70 fire fighters had been sent to the scene. And the London Ambulance Service said there were no reports of any casualties.

 

The Scotland Yard said that it is investigating the incident but have so far discounted a terrorist motive.

 

"We have nothing to suggest that this anything other than a fire at the moment," said a police spokesman.

 

A Network Rail spokesman said that services on the North London railway line had resumed after a temporary suspension between Dalston and Stratford because of the thick smoke, but trains are not stopping at Hackney Wick station.

 

The blaze has not disrupted any flights from nearby London City Airport. "There's smoke drifting southwards but it is not interfering with our operations as aircraft continue to arrive and depart," an airport spokesman said. "However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely."

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2007)