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Belfast Primark fire: Disruption expected around historic site Belfast Primark: Urgent meeting after blaze
(35 minutes later)
Traffic disruption is expected in Belfast city centre after a major fire destroyed the Primark building. An emergency meeting is taking place at Belfast City Hall to co-ordinate a response to the major fire that destroyed the Primark building.
The fire service said there were "grave concerns" that the five-storey Bank Buildings on Castle Street could collapse. A 45m police cordon is in place around the site of the blaze at Castle Street and several roads are closed.
Firefighters battled the flames throughout Tuesday night, after the roof and all the floors caved in. The NI Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the building's exterior is structurally intact.
A 45-metre police cordon remains in place around the site of the blaze, and several roads remain closed. Wednesday's meeting will deal with staff issues, trading in the area and which roads can be re-opened.
The fire was still burning at 07:15 BST on Wednesday, and the fire service said it would take some time to extinguish the blaze. Currently, Queen Street remains closed from Wellington Place to its junction with Castle Street, while Castle Street is closed from Queen Street to Royal Avenue.
Belfast City Hall will be hosting an urgent meeting of council staff, emergency services representatives and business people affected by the fire at 09:00 BST on Wednesday. The fire erupted at about 11:00 BST on Tuesday, and firefighters battled the flames throughout the night after the roof and floors caved in.
The fire was still burning on Wednesday morning, and the fire service said it would take some time to extinguish the blaze.
Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey, who is at the city hall meeting, told BBC News NI: "We need to look at the next steps in terms of preserving this historic building, supporting traders in the area and helping Primark staff to find another place of work in the interim."
Ms Hargey said the fire was "devastating for the city as a whole", but stressed that the city centre is still open for business.
It is believed that more than 350 people work in the store.It is believed that more than 350 people work in the store.
Alan O'Neill of the Northern Ireland Fire Service said further structural collapse overnight had prevented firefighters getting access to the interior.Alan O'Neill of the Northern Ireland Fire Service said further structural collapse overnight had prevented firefighters getting access to the interior.
"We've been cooling from the outside, but it is going to take a bit more time to get the fire out - we're likely to be there for the next couple of days," he said."We've been cooling from the outside, but it is going to take a bit more time to get the fire out - we're likely to be there for the next couple of days," he said.
Praising the crews who have tackled the fire, he added: "It certainly has been very challenging and they did extremely well to prevent it spreading to the neighbouring buildings of Tesco and Zara."Praising the crews who have tackled the fire, he added: "It certainly has been very challenging and they did extremely well to prevent it spreading to the neighbouring buildings of Tesco and Zara."
Queen Street remains closed from Wellington Place to its junction with Castle Street, while Castle Street is closed from Queen Street to Royal Avenue.
All buses operating in and out of the city centre will be subject to delays and diversions.All buses operating in and out of the city centre will be subject to delays and diversions.
No-one was injured in the blaze and it is not yet clear how the fire at the listed building started. No-one was injured in the blaze and it is not yet clear how the fire at the listed building started. Some nearby shops and offices are not opening.
Commuters have been urged to leave extra time for their journeys during rush hour on Wednesday, and some nearby shops and offices are not opening.
Staff devastatedStaff devastated
Staff at the former Primark store have been expressing shock and concern about their futures.Staff at the former Primark store have been expressing shock and concern about their futures.
Mary Flynn from Glengormley has worked for the company since it first opened in Belfast City Centre in 1975 at Queen's Arcade before moving to the Bank Buildings.Mary Flynn from Glengormley has worked for the company since it first opened in Belfast City Centre in 1975 at Queen's Arcade before moving to the Bank Buildings.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Mrs Flynn said she was "devastated" to learn about the fire through a phone call from her niece.Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Mrs Flynn said she was "devastated" to learn about the fire through a phone call from her niece.
"When I heard I was so sad, so upset... but we're just so glad that all the staff and customers got out safely," she said."When I heard I was so sad, so upset... but we're just so glad that all the staff and customers got out safely," she said.
She has not been able to contact her colleagues and friends who were working in the store as most of them left their belongings behind when they had to leave the building.She has not been able to contact her colleagues and friends who were working in the store as most of them left their belongings behind when they had to leave the building.
"Their phones and bags were in the store when they left, they just ran and helped to get the customers out. So I haven't been able to speak to any of them.""Their phones and bags were in the store when they left, they just ran and helped to get the customers out. So I haven't been able to speak to any of them."
Mrs Flynn described her workplace as "a fabulous store with fabulous people - it was like my second home", adding that there had been great anticipation about the completion of the refurbished store.Mrs Flynn described her workplace as "a fabulous store with fabulous people - it was like my second home", adding that there had been great anticipation about the completion of the refurbished store.
Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey said a co-ordinated response to the fire will be worked out at Wednesday morning's urgent meeting.
"We need to look at the next steps in terms of preserving this historic building, supporting traders in the area and helping those 360 staff to find another place of work in the interim."
Ms Hargey said the fire was "devastating for the city as a whole", but stressed that the city centre is still open for business.
On Tuesday, the fire service said the blaze started on the fifth floor or the roof.On Tuesday, the fire service said the blaze started on the fifth floor or the roof.
At the scene: BBC News NI presenter Karen PattersonAt the scene: BBC News NI presenter Karen Patterson
Belfast is waking up to an image as dramatic as those last night, broadcast across the world, of one of Belfast's most iconic buildings.Belfast is waking up to an image as dramatic as those last night, broadcast across the world, of one of Belfast's most iconic buildings.
This morning it's a very sorry sight - it is a shell.This morning it's a very sorry sight - it is a shell.
Visibly, all of the internal floors have collapsed.Visibly, all of the internal floors have collapsed.
As I stand at a cordon, which stretches around 45 metres around the building, there are real concerns about future trading opportunities for businesses in and around the Castle Junction site.As I stand at a cordon, which stretches around 45 metres around the building, there are real concerns about future trading opportunities for businesses in and around the Castle Junction site.
Firefighters pieced together 1km (1,000m) of hose to bring water from the River Lagan to the building on Tuesday evening. Firefighters pieced together 1km (1,380ft of hose to bring water from the River Lagan to the building on Tuesday evening.
"We certainly can't guarantee the structural integrity of the building at this time," said Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michael Graham.
A police officer at the scene told BBC News NI on Tuesday that structural engineers had assessed the building and said it was "at risk of imminent collapse".
Mr Graham said it had been "an intense six hours" for firefighters.
"The priority for us was to stop any fire spreading to any other building and keep our firefighters and the community safe," he added.
"We feel we've achieved all of those things."
What is the history of the building?What is the history of the building?
The clothing and homeware chain was undergoing a major refurbishment.The clothing and homeware chain was undergoing a major refurbishment.
It was being extended along Castle Street in a project costing an estimated £30m.It was being extended along Castle Street in a project costing an estimated £30m.
The original Bank Buildings was designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785.The original Bank Buildings was designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785.
WH Lynn designed the new bank buildings in 1900.WH Lynn designed the new bank buildings in 1900.
He intended it as a bridge to the 20th century, with a compromise between the classical style of the upper part of the building and the great expanse of plate glass below.He intended it as a bridge to the 20th century, with a compromise between the classical style of the upper part of the building and the great expanse of plate glass below.
Three bombs exploded in the Bank Buildings in 1975 - a huge fire broke out shortly afterwards and damaged parts of the building.Three bombs exploded in the Bank Buildings in 1975 - a huge fire broke out shortly afterwards and damaged parts of the building.
In 1979, the Bank Buildings were taken over by the Dublin-based group Primark.In 1979, the Bank Buildings were taken over by the Dublin-based group Primark.
Within 18 months, the store was totally refurbished and the exterior restored to its 1903 glory.Within 18 months, the store was totally refurbished and the exterior restored to its 1903 glory.
Primark CEO Paul Marchant said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the fire.Primark CEO Paul Marchant said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the fire.
Rajesh Rana, president of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce said it was "a sad day for Belfast and for one of our city's leading retailers."Rajesh Rana, president of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce said it was "a sad day for Belfast and for one of our city's leading retailers."