A fire has engulfed and completely destroyed a multi-storey building in central Sydney, throwing a huge cloud of dark smoke over the city.
More than 100 firefighters fought the fire on Thursday afternoon after the building was evacuated.
“The building is currently completely engulfed in flames,” said a NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman.
“We don’t know what’s causing it… we’re trying to contain the source, but it’s threatening neighboring buildings.”
Speaking at a press conference, Jeremy Fewtrell of Fire and Rescue NSW said that ‘it is much too early’ to know the cause of the fire and that they will investigate further this evening.
About 25 fire trucks and more than 100 firefighters are working in the building to contain the fire.
A witness to the fire, said to be the largest seen in Sydney since 1968 – 55 years ago – said ‘it looked like a war zone’.
On Thursday, a dramatic vision emerged of a building on fire in Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, on the southern edge of Sydney’s CBD.
Nearly every room of the building is on fire, as walls and roof collapse on the street below.
The seven-story building is surrounded by dozens of other high-rises, which are now also in danger of burning.
A car parked in front of the building is also on fire in what has been described as one of the largest out-of-control fires in living memory.
A witness told Daily Mail Australia: ‘We have all been evacuated. The smoke turned to fire so quickly. It was an empty building we think.
Part of Sydney Central Station can be seen directly behind a seven-storey building on fire
The photo shows emergency vehicles battling a huge blaze in central Sydney
A massive inferno burns down a building next to Sydney’s busiest train station – and has already spread to a nearby apartment complex and at least one car on the street outside
The entire seven-storey building (pictured) in central Sydney was ablaze on Thursday
Nearly every room of the building is on fire, as walls and roof collapse on the street below
A building has caught fire in Sydney’s CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air
The massive fire has since spread to a second building and threatens a residential apartment building nearby
The Sydney skyline (pictured) is a red haze as a result of the fire near Central Station
On Thursday afternoon, a shocking vision appeared in which the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, was on fire
“The size of the flames is unbelievable and the heat that comes out. Horrible. It must be affecting our building across the road now, but we’ve moved so far away we can’t see a thing.’
Firefighters remain on scene and are trying to bring the fire under control. They doused surrounding buildings with water in an effort to contain the spread of the fire.
The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and spread quickly around 4 p.m. Thursday.
A company car is on fire next to the burning building in Sydney
As darkness fell, people are depicted watching as the fire is dealt with
A firefighter was seen on a ladder fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday
About 25 fire engines and 100 firefighters are reportedly fighting the blaze
Emergency services are photographed at the scene of a building fire in Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023
Stones are scattered across the street and a witness said “the building looks like the bottom of a fire pit” as it continues to crumble.
Trains are currently still running to and from Central Station, the surrounding streets are closed to traffic.
A man who lives nearby said his sister called him and asked if he knew there was a fire.
“I said no, I can’t see or smoke anything, and she sent me a picture and it was a huge fire,” he said.
“When I came out to look the street was closed off and then the police grabbed me and told you to get out on the road.
“While I was standing here the wall actually came crashing down and that was pretty scary. It was just a big bang.’
More to come
The roof of a building collapses Thursday as a result of a raging inferno in Sydney
Daily Mail Australia understands the entire roof has been destroyed so far and there are concerns among workers in the area that the fire will spread to surrounding buildings
The photo shows people keeping their distance from a burning building next to Sydney Central Station