Massive blaze has engulfed a seven-story building in central Sydney, Australia. More than 100 firefighters are battling the towering flames and thick smoke from the multi-story building. According to the emergency services more than 20 trucks have been deployed to contain and extinguish the blaze. The Fire Services have urged the public to avoid the area as the firefighting operations continue and rail services near the blaze have also been suspended until further notice.

Australia: Massive fire engulfs building in Sydney, 20 fire truckers deployed to extinguish blaze

More than 100 firefighters battled towering flames and dense smoke from a fire in a seven-storey building that was spreading to adjacent buildings in central Sydney on Thursday (May 25).

"The building is starting to collapse, while the inferno is beginning to spread to several neighbouring buildings, including residential apartments," Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;

As per&nbsp;the&nbsp;emergency services, more than 100 firemen with 20 fire trucks were "working to contain and extinguish the blaze" on Randle Street near the city's Central Station. At least one close vehicle has been destroyed by fire, they said.

Disclaimer: Some viewers may find the visuals disturbing. Viewer discretion advised.

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NEW VIDEO: Massive fire engulfs a vacant 7-story building in central Sydney, Australia 
 
In this video below, you can see a portion of the building collapse. 
 
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Major fire breaks out in Sydney. Fire tenders rushed. <a href="https://t.co/HhHCbA7gKV">pic.twitter.com/HhHCbA7gKV</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1661649333278629890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"The public is urged to avoid the area as firefighting operations continue," the fires service said.

Images circulating on social media show flames soaring almost as high as the skyscraper itself into the sky.

The building in Sydney’s Surry Hills district was an old hat factory and its conversion into a hotel was planned, according to a recent development application, said&nbsp;city authorities.

Emergency services believe the building was vacant when the blaze started.

"All you could feel when standing here was heat on your face from the flames," one witness told public broadcaster ABC News.

"And when they started to move us back, a car just in front of the building caught fire."

A witness claimed to have seen pieces of the flaming structure fall onto the sidewalk. Commuters were also impacted by the fire, which shuttered roads and halted light rail services.

“It was essentially a candlestick,” a resident who lives about 100 metres from the blaze told Guardian Australia.

“It was basically apocalyptic, there was ash falling everywhere, the embers were raining down,” he added.

NSW Fire and Rescue’s deputy commissioner for field operations, Jeremy Fewtrell stated at a press conference on Thursday that there was no evidence of any injuries to members of the public and that no one was in the structure at the time of the fire.

One fireman suffered minor burns to his arm and is being treated by NSW EMS personnel.&nbsp;

Fewtrell said he'd seen similar-sized flames before, but what made this one stand out was how rapidly it spread and how many additional buildings were nearby.

“The risk of further fire spread is a real concern [and] our firefighters have worked very hard to stop that,” he said.

“There were some fires in there that spread into the apartment buildings, and firefighters were able to extinguish those, preventing them from penetrating further into the buildings and causing significant damage there,” he added.

<h2>Adjacent buildings at risk</h2>

As the building is situated close to residential buildings and backs into a small alley, the apartments, as well as adjoining offices and companies, were evacuated.

Students taking their final exams at Sydney Dental Hospital were evacuated at around 4.15pm (local time).

Fewtrell said that once the fire is put out, an investigation will be carried out.

(With inputs from agencies)

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More than 100 firefighters battled towering flames and dense smoke from a fire in a seven-storey building that was spreading to adjacent buildings in central Sydney on Thursday (May 25).

More than 100 firefighters battled towering flames and dense smoke from a fire in a seven-storey building that was spreading to adjacent buildings in central Sydney on Thursday (May 25). "The building is starting to collapse, while the inferno is beginning to spread to several neighbouring buildings, including residential apartments," Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement, as reported by AFP. As per the emergency services, more than 100 firemen with 20 fire trucks were "working to contain and extinguish the blaze" on Randle Street near the city's Central Station. At least one close vehicle has been destroyed by fire, they said. Disclaimer: Some viewers may find the visuals disturbing. Viewer discretion advised. NEW VIDEO: Massive fire engulfs a vacant 7-story building in central Sydney, Australia In this video below, you can see a portion of the building collapse. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSW pic.twitter.com/ahSJQjTQ3q — Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) May 25, 2023 × Major fire breaks out in Sydney. Fire tenders rushed. pic.twitter.com/HhHCbA7gKV — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 25, 2023 × "The public is urged to avoid the area as firefighting operations continue," the fires service said. Images circulating on social media show flames soaring almost as high as the skyscraper itself into the sky. The building in Sydney’s Surry Hills district was an old hat factory and its conversion into a hotel was planned, according to a recent development application, said city authorities. Emergency services believe the building was vacant when the blaze started. "All you could feel when standing here was heat on your face from the flames," one witness told public broadcaster ABC News. "And when they started to move us back, a car just in front of the building caught fire." A witness claimed to have seen pieces of the flaming structure fall onto the sidewalk. Commuters were also impacted by the fire, which shuttered roads and halted light rail services. “It was essentially a candlestick,” a resident who lives about 100 metres from the blaze told Guardian Australia. “It was basically apocalyptic, there was ash falling everywhere, the embers were raining down,” he added. NSW Fire and Rescue’s deputy commissioner for field operations, Jeremy Fewtrell stated at a press conference on Thursday that there was no evidence of any injuries to members of the public and that no one was in the structure at the time of the fire. One fireman suffered minor burns to his arm and is being treated by NSW EMS personnel. Fewtrell said he'd seen similar-sized flames before, but what made this one stand out was how rapidly it spread and how many additional buildings were nearby. “The risk of further fire spread is a real concern [and] our firefighters have worked very hard to stop that,” he said. “There were some fires in there that spread into the apartment buildings, and firefighters were able to extinguish those, preventing them from penetrating further into the buildings and causing significant damage there,” he added. Adjacent buildings at risk As the building is situated close to residential buildings and backs into a small alley, the apartments, as well as adjoining offices and companies, were evacuated. Students taking their final exams at Sydney Dental Hospital were evacuated at around 4.15pm (local time). Fewtrell said that once the fire is put out, an investigation will be carried out. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Major fire engulfs seven-storey building in Sydney: Over 100 firefighters battle towering flames

Inferno engulfs seven-story building in Sydney, 100 Firefighters battle towering flames

Facing angry street protests and mounting political pressure, Australia's prime minister on Thursday broke a long silence to acknowledge "troubling" bushfire smoke that has engulfed his native <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fears-grow-about-sydney-after-australia-fires-merge-into-giant-blaze-266607">Sydney </a>for more than a month.

"I've lived all my life, pretty much, in Sydney and the haze that has come from those fires, I know has been deeply troubling to Sydneysiders," he said, ending weeks of studied silence.

On Wednesday up to 20,000 people -- many wearing face masks -- <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-thousands-protest-against-climate-change-with-bushfire-in-focus-267674">marched in Sydney</a>, demanding Prime Minister Scott Morrison address directly the crisis that has caused health problems to spike and forced residents indoors.

Hours later the conservative leader insisted he understood the concerns of greater Sydney's five million residents, who have been coughing and spluttering through thick smoke off-and-on since October.

"I know how unusual it is to see that haze across my city. And I know how distressing that has been, particularly for young people, who wouldn't have seen that before," he said.

He also made a rare admission that climate change is one of the "factors" causing unprecedented bushfires that have destroyed millions of hectares of land, more than 700 homes and caused toxic smoke to bathe Australia's largest city.

"The dryness of the bush is the biggest factor," he said noting a long drought in some areas. "And we all know climate change, along with many other factors, contributes to what is occurring today."

Until now Morrison's public comments have focused almost exclusively on solidarity with sparsely populated rural communities hit by the fires directly.

A recent poll by Essential Research showed Morrison's disapproval rating had risen from 36 per cent in September -- when the bushfire crisis began in earnest -- to 43 per cent today.

Climate is a vexed political issue for Morrison's Liberal party.

While he once jokingly paraded on the floor of parliament with a lump of coal to show it was not harmful, former leader Malcolm Turnbull broke ranks to demand the party embrace renewable energy and show more leadership.

Any move to significantly reduce Australia's carbon emissions or curb coal exports could damage Morrison in conservative-voting mining communities, split his party and risk tipping a fragile economy into crisis.

Australia's lucrative mining industry accounted for more than 70 percent of exports and was worth a record Aus$264 billion ($180 billion) in the last financial year.

Facing angry street protests and mounting political pressure, Australia's prime minister on Thursday broke a long silence to acknowledge "troubling" bushfire smoke that has engulfed his native Sydney for more than a month.

Facing angry street protests and mounting political pressure, Australia's prime minister on Thursday broke a long silence to acknowledge "troubling" bushfire smoke that has engulfed his native Sydney for more than a month. "I've lived all my life, pretty much, in Sydney and the haze that has come from those fires, I know has been deeply troubling to Sydneysiders," he said, ending weeks of studied silence. On Wednesday up to 20,000 people -- many wearing face masks -- marched in Sydney, demanding Prime Minister Scott Morrison address directly the crisis that has caused health problems to spike and forced residents indoors. Hours later the conservative leader insisted he understood the concerns of greater Sydney's five million residents, who have been coughing and spluttering through thick smoke off-and-on since October. "I know how unusual it is to see that haze across my city. And I know how distressing that has been, particularly for young people, who wouldn't have seen that before," he said. He also made a rare admission that climate change is one of the "factors" causing unprecedented bushfires that have destroyed millions of hectares of land, more than 700 homes and caused toxic smoke to bathe Australia's largest city. "The dryness of the bush is the biggest factor," he said noting a long drought in some areas. "And we all know climate change, along with many other factors, contributes to what is occurring today." Until now Morrison's public comments have focused almost exclusively on solidarity with sparsely populated rural communities hit by the fires directly. A recent poll by Essential Research showed Morrison's disapproval rating had risen from 36 per cent in September -- when the bushfire crisis began in earnest -- to 43 per cent today. Climate is a vexed political issue for Morrison's Liberal party. While he once jokingly paraded on the floor of parliament with a lump of coal to show it was not harmful, former leader Malcolm Turnbull broke ranks to demand the party embrace renewable energy and show more leadership. Any move to significantly reduce Australia's carbon emissions or curb coal exports could damage Morrison in conservative-voting mining communities, split his party and risk tipping a fragile economy into crisis. Australia's lucrative mining industry accounted for more than 70 percent of exports and was worth a record Aus$264 billion ($180 billion) in the last financial year.

Aussie PM breaks silence on 'troubling' smoke crisis

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Australia: Massive fire engulfs building in Sydney, 20 fire truckers deployed to extinguish blaze

WATCH | Major fire engulfs seven-storey building in Sydney: Over 100 firefighters battle towering flames

Inferno engulfs seven-story building in Sydney, 100 Firefighters battle towering flames

Aussie PM breaks silence on 'troubling' smoke crisis