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Crews tackle blaze at National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth | Crews tackle blaze at National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth |
(35 minutes later) | |
Firefighters are tackling a blaze at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. | |
Flames and smoke can be seen coming from the roof of the library and some 300 staff were evacuated after the alarm was raised at 14:39 BST. | |
Senior library staff said it was not known how the fire started but everyone was safely out of the building. | |
Reports from the scene suggest a 30m section of the roof had been destroyed, with smoke billowing out of the hole. | |
Firefighters are using an aerial ladder to tackle the blaze. | |
It is not clear what the affected area is used for but smoke can been seem coming from an area of the library called Building 2. | |
Millions of books | |
Hundreds of onlookers have gathered outside the building. | |
Aled Gruffydd Jones, who takes over as head librarian in August, told the BBC Wales news website: "Everybody is out and safe and all the procedures have been followed. | |
"We need to know what happened and how. I'm puzzled by how it could've started. Clearly we need an inquiry." | |
The library has millions of books plus manuscripts, archives, maps, pictures, photographs, films and music. | |
It was established by Royal Charter on 19 March, 1907, the same day as the National Museum in Cardiff. | |
The building, which is on Penglais Hill overlooking Aberystwyth, was started in 1911, and first occupied in 1916. | |
Several extensions have been added since. |