Three robots collided at an Ocado warehouse in Erith, south-east London, causing a fire, the facility's evacuation and serious disruption of the local community.

The incident disrupted operations, led to the evacuation of about 800 staff members, and resulted in the cancellation of thousands of orders. Many customers were self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 100 firefighters worked overnight to contain the blaze. 

While no injuries were reported, the resulting "safety cordon" and smoke forced neighbouring businesses to shut down operations for the duration of the 14-hour fire and the subsequent "damping down" period. 

Local bus routes were diverted or terminated early, and nearby train station access was restricted, causing significant delays for local commuters and residents. 

The damage, which Ocado estimated to cost GBP 35 million, was limited to a small section of the warehouse. The company’s shares quickly slipped nearly 5 percent.

The incident raised serious questions about the safety of Ocado's automated packing system.

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• https://www.ft.com/content/aaddf4b1-a78b-4289-b42f-fd3f5cd7f176

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• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-18/ocado-sees-operations-disrupted-after-robots-collide-cause-fire

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• https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/19582811.erith-warehouse-fire-cost-ocado-estimated-35-million