Hundreds of shoppers at an IKEA store in Exeter were evacuated, leaving their purchased items behind at the checkout counters. The incident occurred around 1 pm when a van hit a sprinkler system in the store’s underground car park, setting off fire alarms, as reported by Devon Live.

Witnesses stated that over 300 people were evacuated from the store, with staff informing them of flooding in part of the car park. Employees were observed redirecting traffic away from the location to ensure safety.

Another witness mentioned hearing an alarm indicating a “technical difficulty” related to the car park’s sprinkler system, leading to the evacuation and temporary closure of the store.

IKEA confirmed the precautionary evacuation due to an “incident in the car park,” with the store reopening within an hour. A spokesperson emphasized the priority of customer and staff safety, stating that standard safety protocols were followed during the evacuation process.

The spokesperson added, “The evacuation was swift and secure while we assessed the situation. We regret any inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding and patience of our customers.”

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