Hundreds of customers at an IKEA store in Exeter were evacuated following an incident where a van hit a sprinkler system in the underground car park, triggering fire alarms. Witnesses reported over 300 people being asked to leave the store due to flooding in part of the car park.
The evacuation led to workers redirecting traffic away from the building as a safety measure. Reports indicated that an alarm signaled a technical issue with the sprinkler system, prompting customers to exit the store before its closure.
IKEA Exeter confirmed the evacuation was a precautionary measure in response to the car park incident and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused. Following a brief assessment, the store reopened within an hour with a focus on customer and staff safety.
The IKEA store in Exeter, established in 2018, is situated four miles southeast of the city center, conveniently accessible via the M5 and A379. The store boasts a spacious car park capable of accommodating up to 1,000 vehicles.
