WASHINGTON — The L’Enfant Plaza Metro station has been evacuated and remains closed due to smoke in the station.
Delays are significant and riders are being treated for smoke inhalation on the scene. Dozens of people, if not more, have been transported to the hospital, two are in critical condition and one person has died. Metro Transit Police and D.C. Fire & EMS personnel continue to investigate the source of the smoke.
While Green and Yellow lines are primarily affected, there are delays on almost every line except for Red.
As of 5:40 p.m., Green and Yellow Line service has been restored at Gallery Place Station to and from stations toward Greenbelt. Service on those lines remains suspended between Gallery Place and Navy Yard/Pentagon.
Blue/Orange/Silver line trains won’t stop at L’Enfant Plaza.
Riders should consider alternate travel options, including Metrobus.
Metro's General Manager Richard Sarles says a woman who was on the train that filled with smoke has died. Two other people are in critical condition. More than 60 others were taken to local hospitals.
In a 7 p.m. news conference, Sarles says Metro hopes to restore limited Yellow and Green line service but its not clear when that could happen.
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty is on the scene outside L’Enfant Metro Station.
Cloherty reports that more than 50 people outside the station have health concerns and most of those evacuated from the station have black soot under their noses. Paramedics have set up around the area and are treating people on the scene. Dozens of others have been taken to the hospital, some in serious condition.
“Right now, it seems to be more of a health concern than anything,” reports Cloherty.