Seven people have been hospitalised after a fire broke out at a construction site in east London.

In dramatic scenes, a worker presumed to be the crane operator sought refuge at the end of a boom as thick black smoke engulfed his crane.

The broke out at contractor Bouygues’ Makers Yard residential scheme, near Silvertown Way in Canning Town.

According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire started within a base in the commercial unit in the 10-storey residential building still under construction.

Huge plumes of black smoke engulfed the neighbouring Brunel Street Works apartment and the surrounding buildings.

Building on fire in Canning Town, London.
Looks like a building under construction. Firemen are already on location. pic.twitter.com/RDAVH0EaNQ

— Virginia Vitalone (@vivivitalone) June 4, 2024

It is not clear whether the seven people treated in hospital for smoke inhalation were construction workers or tenants in the nearby buildings. A further three people were assessed on scene.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to the fire near Silvertown Way in Canning Town.

The alarm was raised at around 8.30 after the shift had just started on Tuesday morning.