Italian firefighters are battling a high-rise in Milan that quickly spread to a 20-story residential building
MILAN – Italian firefighters fought on Sunday against a high-rise in Milan that quickly spread across a 20-story residential building and poured black smoke into the air. Residents were evacuated in a hurry.
Mayor Giuseppe Sala said there were no reports of injuries or deaths, but that firefighters were shooting through doors, apartment by apartment, to make sure there were no casualties.
“We’re sure there was time to get out, but until the checks are over, we can’t be completely sure,” Sala told reporters at the site. He said about 20 people were evacuated without incident.
The 60-meter-high building, which was part of a recent development project, was designed to look like the keel of a ship and included an aluminum sail on the roof, which burned and fell to the ground. street in pieces.
A huge plume of black smoke came out of the reinforced concrete building called Torre dei Moro and was visible for kilometers (miles). The flames continued to burn inside nearly 3 hours after a dozen fire trucks and ambulances responded to the alarm.
A firefighter told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that the flames were still limited when they arrived and firefighters were able to remove the residents. An hour later, the flames had spread from the 15th floor, where it appears the fire started, which quickly devoured the entire facade of the building.
Unidentified residents told Corriere that the facade panels were supposed to have been fire-resistant.
Firefighters say the fire involved a 20-story building. Project plans say it has 16 residential floors plus two basements.