Flames consume skyscrapers in Milan, Italy; evacuated residents

Italian firefighters on Sunday (August 29) fought a fire in a Milan skyscraper that quickly spread through a 20-story residential building and blew dark smoke into the air. Residents were hastily evacuated.Show more

Mayor Giuseppe Sala said there were no reports of injuries or deaths, but firefighters were breaking down doors apartment by apartment to ensure there were no casualties.

"We are sure there was time to leave, but until the controls are completed, we can't be sure," Sala told reporters at the scene. He said about 20 people were evacuated without incident.

The 60 meter (almost 200 feet) tall building, part of a recent development project, was designed to look like a ship's keel and included an aluminum sail on its roof, which burned and fell to the ground in pieces. .

The huge cloud of smoke rising from the reinforced concrete building called Torre dei Moro was visible for kilometers (miles). The flames continued to burn within almost 3 hours after a dozen fire trucks and ambulances responded to the alarm.

A firefighter told Corriere della Sera newspaper that the fire was still limited when they arrived and firefighters managed to get the residents out. Within an hour, flames had spread from the 15th floor, where the fire appears to have started, quickly devouring the entire facade of the building.

Unidentified residents told Corriere that the façade panels should be fire resistant.

Plans for the building project say it would have 16 residential floors plus two underground.