Fire erupts at New Zealand convention centre being built in Auckland

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Fire services in New Zealand are fighting a blaze at Sky City Convention Centre, which is under construction in the country’s largest city Auckland.

The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, is close to the iconic Sky City tower in downtown Auckland. Videos posted by witnesses on Twitter showed fire and black smoke bellowing from the roof of the convention centre.

“Police are assisting Fire and Emergency NZ with cordons and evacuations of workers in the immediate area,” New Zealand police said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment on whether anyone was injured or trapped in the convention centre.

Hundreds of people, including construction workers, have been evacuated from the vicinity of the fire, media reports said.

“Fire is really building. People can be seen on the roof,” Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff said in a Tweet.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Tom Hogue)

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