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EU offices evacuated due to fire EU offices evacuated due to fire
(30 minutes later)
A fire has broken out in the basement of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, officials say.A fire has broken out in the basement of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, officials say.
A BBC correspondent outside the Berlaymont building says thick smoke can be seen pouring from the roof. At least three fire engines are there. A BBC correspondent near the Berlaymont building says thick smoke can be seen pouring from the roof. Several fire engines and ambulances are outside.
Information officer Nico Keppens said security personnel had told him that there was a fire in the press room.Information officer Nico Keppens said security personnel had told him that there was a fire in the press room.
"I think everybody was evacuated. There was no panic," he told the BBC. People have been told to keep a safe distance."I think everybody was evacuated. There was no panic," he told the BBC. People have been told to keep a safe distance.
Mr Keppens said there was no information on the cause of the blaze. There have been no reports of any injuries.Mr Keppens said there was no information on the cause of the blaze. There have been no reports of any injuries.
The Berlaymont, a four-pronged glass and steel structure in central Brussels, has 18 floors and offices for some 3,000 EU officials.The Berlaymont, a four-pronged glass and steel structure in central Brussels, has 18 floors and offices for some 3,000 EU officials.
Officials said the building was evacuated within minutes of alarm being sounded shortly after 1300 (1100 GMT).
Journalists working in the media room, known as "the bunker", said they had noticed a steady build-up of smoke for 20 minutes before then, but that the smoke detectors had failed to react.