Storm Eunice tears huge hole in roof of London's O2 Arena in Greenwich

Part of London’s O2 Arena was torn to shreds as Storm Eunice struck

Storm Eunice has torn a huge hole in the roof of London's famous O2 Arena in Greenwich, south east London.

Dramatic video taken as the fierce storm swept across the capital showed extensive damage at one of London's biggest landmarks. Around 1,000 people were evacuated and no one was injured.

Eyewitness Ben Hubbard said: "It started off as one small panel down in the corner and went right up to the centre."

He added: "It's gone from one, two, three, four, five and now the sixth panel so this thing [storm] doesn't seem to be slowing down.

"Pretty tragic. I think some people said there was a concert here tonight, guess that might not be going ahead now."

Storm Eunice kills four as record-breaking gusts batter UK and Ireland

Above: Another eyewitness said he'd never seen anything like it before and came to have a look when he heard The O2 had started ripping

The famous building hosts major events including concerts and features restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema. It recently hosted the Brit Awards, broadcast on ITV.

Simply Red, who had been due to play the venue this weekend but postponed due to Covid, described the damage as "tragic".

Chris Kamara from London Fire Brigade said: "There has been no actual collapse or structural damage to the building, but due to the nature of the canvas material which covers The O2, it has come loose in high winds and looks quite dramatic.

"Crews have made the scene safe and The O2 is now closed until further notice."

A spokesperson for the O2 Arena added: "Due to today's adverse weather conditions, we can confirm that there has been some damage caused to the tent fabric in our roof at The O2.

"The affected areas have been cleared and The O2 will remain closed for the rest of the day. The safety of our visitors remains of paramount importance, and we will continue to assess the ongoing situation and act accordingly."

Extensive damage to the roof of the O2 Arena in Greenwich, east London

A London duo who write poetry and share it with London commuters on whiteboards at Tube stations said: "It was supposed to be Stormzy blowing off the roof of The O2 in March, not Storm Eunice.

"Events can be rescheduled and buildings can be replaced, but you can’t.

"Stay safe everyone and keep your pets safe too."

The damage in Greenwich came as London was placed under a severe red weather warning covering London, Kent, Surrey, Essex and East Sussex.

It is the first time such a warning has ever been issued for London or the South East.

Above: Reporter Rags Martel rounds up how Storm Eunice caused chaos across London

Elsewhere in London:

  • The roof of Tottenham's football ground was pulsating up and down in the wind

  • The roof was blown off five houses in Kilburn Park Road, no one was injured

  • A huge tree was blown onto railway tracks disrupting services into London Waterloo

Tree blocking the line between London Waterloo and Dorking Credit: Network Rail

  • A billboard also fell onto tracks at Elephant and Castle further disrupting services

Billboard on the tracks in South London Credit: Network Rail

  • A roof was damaged by high winds at a warehouse in Edmonton, 250 people were evacuated

Roof torn from a warehouse in north London Credit: London Fire Brigade

  • In Croydon the high winds left these cranes swaying