Flames engulf the building's famous clock. Image: BBCThe fire broke out at 11am this morning
A senior police officer has said the iconic Primark store in Belfast is 'at risk of imminent collapse,' reports the BBC.
Flames billowing from Primark store Belfast city centre @utv @UTVNews pic.twitter.com/Qn8e23XHg2
— Louise Small (@Louise_utv) August 28, 2018
A fire broke out in the five-storey listed Bank Buildings at about 11:00 this morning.
The roof of the building is understood to have collapsed.
You can see through the top floor, we can hear what sounds like collapsing from inside the building. Floors appears to be collapsing on top of floors #PrimarkBelfast pic.twitter.com/Vy0b1omeJD
— Sarah Scott (@noseforthenews6) August 28, 2018
A number of fire crews are at the scene and the fire has reportedly spread to the ground floor.
Primark in Belfast City centre on fire @BBCNewsNI pic.twitter.com/6VrrIDqGwA
— Niall McCracken (@Niall_journo) August 28, 2018
The building is the famous Bank Buildings, originally designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785, and redesigned in 1900 by WH Lynn.
It was currently going undergoing a major undergoing refurbishment, to be extended in a project costing an estimated £30m.
Actually heartbreaking to see how bad the fire at Belfast Primark is. I know there's lots of jokes and memes going around but to see that old bank building burnt to ground is gut wrenching. pic.twitter.com/7TF8mbAFwb
Some Belfast residents are devastated to see the building burn.
— shane telford. (@MrShaneReaction) August 28, 2018
The building was evacuated, and there have been no reports of injuries.
Smoke can be seen bellowing across Belfast. Image: BBC
