LONDON, Sept 11: British fire-fighters raced into the Channel Tunnel on Thursday to tackle a fire described as a “serious incident,” as traffic tailbacks rapidly formed on the British end after the tunnel was closed.

Kent Fire and Rescue service, on the British side of the tunnel, said it sent seven fire engines to help French counterparts at the scene, which Eurotunnel said was approximately 11 kilometres from the French end.

“We have a number of appliances there. It is a serious incident,” said a spokeswoman.

Kent Police said that those caught inside the tunnel -- which Eurostar said affected some 30 people -- were being evacuated via a service tunnel running parallel to the main train tunnel.

“A train is now on its way from France to pick up the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France,” it said in a statement.

All train services through the tunnel were cancelled until at least Friday morning, the French state rail company, SNCF, announced.—AFP