A major fire has flared up since Thursday afternoon in a seven-story building in central Sydney, filling the sky of the Australian metropolis with smoke.

The building, which is thankfully empty, began to collapse and parts of it fell to the ground in flames, causing panic in the Surry Hills area, near the city’s central business district.

SERRY HILLS | The wall collapses as a massive fire engulfs the seven-story building. A new video released by FRNSW shows the moment a wall of a flooded building in Surry Hills collapsed onto the street below. pic.twitter.com/mZeYGg1Kox

— New South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (@FRNSW) May 25, 2023

The fire burns uncontrollably for several hours as the local fire brigade finds it very difficult to deal with it.

The building begins to collapse, while the fire began to spread to neighboring houses, including neighboring apartment buildings. At least one vehicle in the area was also destroyed by the fire.

Over 100 firefighters with over 20 vehicles are trying to bring the blaze under control.

According to an update from the state fire service, the area where the building is on fire has been evacuated and cordoned off by the authorities. This place is also close to Sydney Central Station.

Smoke from the fire enveloped much of Sydney as night fell there.

Source: Reuters, New South Wales Fire Department.