Big fire breaks out near London's Elephant & Castle station

LONDON (AP) - A big fire has broken out near the central London train station of Elephant and Castle, sending huge plumes of black smoke over the capital.

Linking videos posted on Twitter, the London Fire Brigade said Monday that 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters were battling the blaze at railway arches near the station, which is just south of the River Thames and near some major London landmarks, including the London Eye.

The fire brigade said three commercial units below the railway arches are completely on fire and four cars and a telephone box near the station were also alight.

It also urged people to avoid the area and to close all doors and windows.

Elephant and Castle is a busy traffic intersection. It also is a major rail hub, home to a busy subway station on the Northern Line as well as overground trains that connects south London and north London.

Local police said the incident is not believed to be terror-related.

No further details were immediately available.