An iconic skyscraper in the Croatian capital Zagreb has been almost completely destroyed by a massive fire.
There were no reports of casualties in the fire that broke out tonight near the top of the 16-story "Vesnić" tower and quickly spread downwards.
The building, named after a popular newspaper that was once published there, was largely empty when the fire started. About 100 firefighters were unable to enter the building due to the intensity of the flames, Croatian media reported.
By midday, the fire appeared to be extinguished, but the concrete and metal cladding continued to smolder.
“From what I saw on the spot and inside the building, the damage is unfortunately total,“ said Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević.
“I believe that the state and other owners will start renovating the building in this prominent location in our city as soon as possible.“
Parts of the building are reported to have collapsed due to the fire, which spread through ventilation shafts.