London Zoo fire injures 9 people, kills Misha the aardvark

On Saturday morning, a massive fire broke out at the ZSL London Zoo.

The area also contains a petting zoo and four meerkats are also unaccounted for.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the fire broke out in a cafe and shop near the Meerkat enclosure and an animal petting area.

The zoo will be closed Saturday.

London Ambulance said paramedics treated eight people at the scene - six for smoke inhalation and two for minor injuries, with one of those treated taken to hospital.

Zoo director Dominic Jermey said the staff was "absolutely devastated" by the aardvark's death.

"Approximately three quarters of an adventure cafe and shop and half of the roof is now alight".

The tweet said: "ZSL London Zoo is now dealing with an incident on site after a fire broke out".

A statement said: "Fire crews from Kentish Town, Paddington, Euston, West Hampstead and other surrounding fire stations are at the scene".

'We will update as quickly as the situation allows'. "They worked incredibly hard in arduous conditions to bring it under control as quickly as possible and to stop it from spreading to neighboring animal enclosures". It is set to reopen Sunday.

It is not known what started the fire.

The fire was brought under control at about 9:16 a.m. local time (4:16 a.m. ET) and an investigation remained underway into its cause, the fire brigade said.

"We will aim to re-open when we know it is safe to do so for animals, staff and visitors".