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Manchester Chinatown hit by fire | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A large fire broke out in Manchester's Chinatown in the early hours. | A large fire broke out in Manchester's Chinatown in the early hours. |
The blaze began at about 02:15 GMT at a building on Nicholas Street and lit up the Chinatown arch at its peak, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said. | The blaze began at about 02:15 GMT at a building on Nicholas Street and lit up the Chinatown arch at its peak, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said. |
Many roads remain shut. It is not yet known if anybody was hurt in the fire. | |
The blaze is now under control but the building has "severe damage", fire crews said. They added it was unlikely to cause further damage to other buildings. | |
Due to falling debris, firefighters were forced to keep back from the multi-storey commercial building. | Due to falling debris, firefighters were forced to keep back from the multi-storey commercial building. |
Latest updates on this and other stories | Latest updates on this and other stories |
Search dog and drone | |
Damaged staircases inside the building had to be shored up before a search and rescue dog was sent in at about 10:10. | |
A drone camera has surveyed damage from above. | |
A spokesperson said they were looking for hot spots, any fire which had not been fully put out. | |
It was not confirmed if anybody had been in the building when the blaze started, he said. | |
A fire investigation team is at the scene. | |
Roads were blocked by the fleet of fire engines sent to tackle the flames which illuminated Chinatown's decorative gateway at the peak of the blaze. | Roads were blocked by the fleet of fire engines sent to tackle the flames which illuminated Chinatown's decorative gateway at the peak of the blaze. |
Bus services have also been affected. | Bus services have also been affected. |
Stagecoach and First Manchester are currently unable to serve Piccadilly Gardens, Transport for Greater Manchester said. | Stagecoach and First Manchester are currently unable to serve Piccadilly Gardens, Transport for Greater Manchester said. |
The incident is also causing congestion in the city centre. | The incident is also causing congestion in the city centre. |
Portland Street is closed between Charlotte Street and Princess Street. | Portland Street is closed between Charlotte Street and Princess Street. |
At the scene: BBC Radio Manchester reporter, Michelle Adamson | |
"The roof has completely gone on this building. You can see the sky through the top windows there because the roof is completely collapsed. | |
"I can see the the charred burnt struts of the roof there. Most of it has just gone completely. | |
"This was a very fierce fire. It is now under control. It is not being actively fought now. But fire crews are still damping down. | |
"They've got a hydraulic platform with a long ladder on it which they are using to direct forceful jets of water through the window to try and dampen down the remains of this very, very intense fire. | |
"I would avoid this area because there is going to be congestion still." |