Fire destroys part of Southend Pier on England's east coast

A fire on Monday destroyed part of Southend Pier, a 2-kilometer (1.3-mile) long structure on England's east coast and one of the country's best known seaside attractions.

A pub and a fish-and-chip shop collapsed as a result of the blaze, dragging some of the pier's wooden floor with them. Around 60 firefighters tackled the fire, which began at around 10:40 p.m. (2140GMT) Sunday and was brought under control early Monday. The tide was out when fire crews first arrived on the scene, meaning the pier's water pumps could not initially be used.

"We've got the fire under control now," Station Officer Dave Moore, of Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said Monday. "The tide has come in and we have now got water and a tug fighting it from the side."

Moore said firefighters would later start investigating how the blaze started, reports the AP. I.L.