A huge fire has broken out and engulfed a downtown building in Sydney, Australia.
Footage from the scene showed an enormous, towering inferno engulfing a structure in Surry Hills in the city's CBD area.
The fire ripped through almost every room of the building, which is nestled between a cluster of high rises.
Shortly after the blaze started, a car that was parked in front of the building was also torched.
Aerial footage shows the roof, external walls and even some of the floors have completely caved in and bricks were seen strewn about on Chalmers Street below.
The complex is thought to be vacant but locals say homeless people have been taking shelter there.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the fire started on level three of the building.
"We got the fire on the third level of what we believe is a seven-level block we have people evacuating and firefighters entering this building to fight this fire," he said.
One witness said that 100 workers and residents from nearby buildings have since been evacuated.
The "smoke turned to fire so quickly", they said, adding that they thought the building was empty at the time, Daily Mail Australia reports.
"The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it," the witness said.
"Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we've been moved so far away we can't see."
Another witness added: "It’s actually quite wild out on the streets, people everywhere and ash falling from the sky. Firefighters blocked off Elizabeth St, while shocked commuters lined the street."
“A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area,” said another. “The building looks like the bottom of a fire pit.”
A 9News reporter on the scene added: "Probably one of the biggest building fires I've seen in the city.
"I first got off the train and saw the smoke.
"That was pretty much before any fire trucks or police had arrived.
"There were flames leaping out from every window."
The entire roof has been gutted and there are still concerns the flames could spread to nearby buildings.
The fire has lead to travel chaos in the local area, with major road closures as firefighters try to bring the blaze under control. Buses are being diverted and services from the nearby train station have also been halted.
The fire broke out in Sydney's CBD, the city's business and retail area.
Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she is awaiting updates and advised residents to heed warnings.
'Like you, I’m watching the aggressive fire take hold of a building in Surry Hills this afternoon. The building appears to have been completely engulfed with flames. Please stay safe and listen to warnings,' she said.
