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A massive fire broke out in a landmark skyscraper in downtown Zagreb, the Croatian capital, on Tuesday night, almost completely destroying the building but causing no casualties.
The building, known as the Vizesnik Tower, was named after the popular newspaper that was published there for decades, along with other prominent newspapers and magazines until about 12 years ago.
According to Croatian media, the fire started near the top floor of the 16-story building and quickly spread downwards, preventing about 100 firefighters from getting inside.
The building, modeled after the Lever House office building on Manhattan’s Park Avenue, also known as the Chocolate Tower, was almost completely empty when the fire broke out near midnight on Monday.
The fire appeared to be under control by Tuesday afternoon, but the metal and concrete building was still smoldering. The cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities said.
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Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and State Property Branko Vacic said the building housed part of the national archives.
“In part of the building there were archives of the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Finance, or rather the tax authorities. Many of the floors were empty, there was nothing,” Bacic told domestic reporters.
He said the government, which jointly owns the building with five other organizations, is in talks to rebuild it.
“(The tower) already needed to be rebuilt, so we are already in the process of doing that and are talking with the other co-owners about how to do it,” Bacic added.
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said: “After looking at the site and inside the building, unfortunately the damage is significant, but I believe that the state and other owners will start renovating the building, which is located in a prominent part of the city, as soon as possible.”
Public broadcaster HRT said about 80 firefighters were called in to bring the blaze under control, adding that traffic was still being diverted away from the tower on Tuesday.
Additional sources of information • AP
