Berlin building fire sends dark smoke over city center

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - A fire erupted Monday at a high-rise building under construction in central Berlin, triggering explosions and sending plumes of black smoke visible from the government quarter.

The blaze erupted on the roof of the 17-story John Jahr Haus building, accompanied by three loud explosions that local media reports attributed to gas cylinders used in construction work.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene. The building is the tallest building on Kurfurstenstrasse, approximately 400 meters from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters.

Local authorities closed surrounding streets as a precaution, causing traffic congestion in the area. No injuries were reported, according to a fire department spokesman quoted by the Bild newspaper.

Construction workers reportedly evacuated safely using an exterior elevator. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.