A fire in central Belfast on Tuesday "extensively damaged" a historic building dating back more than two centuries, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said. The blaze broke out at around 11:00 am (10:00 GMT) on the top floor of a five-storey commercial property known as the Bank Buildings that was first erected in 1785.
Social media posts showed flames and huge plumes of black smoke coming from the roof of the site, which had opened in 1787 as "The Bank of the Four Johns". It served as a retail space from 1805, with department store chain Primark taking over the building in 1979.
"Fire has extensively damaged the Primark building in Belfast," NIFRS said on Twitter. "Firefighting is ongoing and will continue into the evening," it added. There were no reports of any injuries. The service said 80 firefighters were battling the flames, and advised local residents and businesses to keep their windows and doors closed.
The BBC reported fire chiefs fear that the building could collapse. Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the fire at the Belfast flagship store and reassured staff they would be "fully supported". He vowed to work with the authorities and building contractors to establish the cause of the blaze.
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