Some 60 firefighters are tackling a blaze which is threatening to destroy part of the historic Ritz hotel in Paris, which was due to reopen in a few weeks following a €200 million facelift.
At least 15 fire engines are at the scene of the fire, which broke out at 6am local time this morning.
Nobody was in the five-star hotel when the fire started, but reports say a large part of the city centre building has been affected.
Initial reports suggest the entire top floor has been gutted by the fire, which is threatening to engulf the roof.
People have been evacuated from nearby buildings, including some smaller hotels near the Place de Vendome where the Ritz is located. Police are urging motorists to avoid the area, which is at the heart of the city’s luxury district, near the Opera Garnier.
Captain Yvon Bot, a spokesman for the Paris fire brigade, said: "No one has been hurt…Our concern is to stop the fire spreading to the whole of the roof and seventh floor."
The Ritz is one of the city’s most historic hotels, having been favoured by royalty and film stars since its opening in 1898. Owned by Mohammed el-Fayed, it was where Princess Diana and el-Fayed’s son dined the night of their fatal car crash in 1997.
People posted images of the fire on Twitter, as well as plumes of black smoke which could be seen from across the French capital.
The hotel had been closed since August 2012 for top to bottom renovations after it failed to meet Paris’ new standards for ‘palace’ status and was due to reopen in March.
