A man has been rushed to hospital with burn injuries after an explosion tore through the underground car park of a Wimbledon shopping centre in Southwest London on Monday morning, triggering an emergency response.
The incident occurred at around 10am and he London Ambulance Service received the first 999 call at 10.06am and immediately dispatched an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast-response car, an incident response officer, and members of the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
A man in his 60s, believed to be the driver of the van, was found suffering from significant burns. He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital “as a priority,” emergency services confirmed.
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A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said:
“We were called at 10.06am on Monday 17 November to reports of an explosion on Queens Road, Wimbledon. We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast-response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched paramedics from our hazardous area response team (HART). We treated a man at the scene for burns and took him to hospital as a priority.”
Photographs and videos posted on social media showed the van severely damaged, with its side panels buckled and debris scattered around the underground parking bay. Dust, smoke and alarms triggered the immediate evacuation of the Wimbledon Quarter, with around 100 people shepherded out of the building as a precaution while emergency crews assessed the area.
Police quickly confirmed that the explosion was not terror-related. A Met Police spokesperson said:
“At 10.10am on Monday, officers responded to reports of an explosion on Queens Road, Wimbledon. Police, the London Ambulance Service, and the London Fire Brigade attended and found that the contents of a van had exploded after the vehicle is believed to have struck the roof of a car park.”
One witness described dramatic scenes as the blast shook the busy town centre during the morning rush.
“Crazy! My other half heard this massive blast while in her car. Cue loads of dust and smoke. Then when exiting the parking saw this. Wild,” the witness posted online.
Queens Road has been closed in both directions between Princes Road and A219 The Broadway, causing traffic disruptions throughout the area. Bus route 200 has been diverted, and Transport for London issued an alert advising passengers of ongoing changes.
TfL said:
“Buses are diverted via Alexandra Road, Gap Road and Haydons Road, missing stops from Wimbledon Police Station ‘J’ to Haydons Road Station ‘HC’ towards Mitcham, and from Haydons Road Station ‘HL’ to Wimbledon Police Station ‘K’ towards Raynes Park.”
Despite the chaos above ground, Wimbledon Underground station and mainline railway services remain open, with trains operating normally while emergency services continue investigations in the car park below.
London Fire Brigade has since secured the area, but structural checks and a full assessment of the van’s cargo are ongoing. Police say enquiries remain active.
