Big fire which took place in an abandoned hat factory in its center Sydney and the forced evacuation of emergency services from neighboring apartment buildings was brought under control by firefighters, with no casualties reported.

Near Sydney Central Station, more than 30 vehicles and 120 firefighters fought the blaze in the seven-story building this afternoon (local time), according to NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Futrell.

Wow, a huge fire in the heart of Surry Hills right now in Sydney sent by @annamccrea37 @abcnews @abcsydney. pic.twitter.com/HMQGwmvr2T

— Evelyn Leckie (@Evelyn_Leckie) May 25, 2023

Hundreds of people leaving the busy train station watched from a safe distance as the walls of the burning building collapsed onto streets previously cordoned off by emergency services.

Fattrell told a press conference that the fire had been brought under control, but it would take hours to fully extinguish it. He added that residents were evacuated from nearby houses, there were no casualties.

A burning building collapses in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/FlVHSUCf4O

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePress) May 25, 2023

According to television images, burning debris also fell on the roof of a nearby house. Firefighters put out a small fire that started in nearby buildings, Fattrell said.

A New South Wales Ambulance Service spokesman said 10 units arrived at the scene.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}