Massive fire erupts at site of New Zealand’s biggest building project

Hundreds of people, including construction workers, were evacuated from the vicinity of the fire at the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland

With a floor area of over 85,000 square metres, the NZ$703 million (US$452 million) centre is considered to be the country’s biggest current building project

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Smoke rises as a fire blazes at the Sky City Convention Centre, which is under construction in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:37am, 22 Oct 2019Updated: 2:25pm, 23 Oct 2019

New Zealand fire services were battling a massive blaze on Tuesday on the roof of a convention centre under construction in the city of Auckland, considered to be the country’s biggest current building project.

The fire, which broke out at the SkyCity Convention Centre, is close to the iconic Sky City tower in downtown Auckland. Videos posted by witnesses on Twitter showed fire and black smoke billowing from the roof of the centre.

Smoke rises from the fire at the Sky City Convention Centre. Photo: Reuters

Some 23 fire trucks from across greater Auckland had responded to the blaze, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said in a statement, after it received multiple calls to report flames.

There was no immediate comment on whether anyone has been injured or trapped in the convention centre.

Hundreds of people, including construction workers, were evacuated from the vicinity of the fire, media reports said. Traffic was at a standstill in central Auckland, and people were asked to stay out of the city’s business district.

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