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29th August 2018
11:15am BST
It’s feared that the Bank Buildings housing the Primark store in Belfast could collapse after it caught fire yesterday.
An emergency City Hall meeting was called this morning to determine whether it could be saved and to deal with local business issues.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for hours after it started on the top floor of the five-storey building at around 11am on Tuesday.
Belfast primark on fire @belfast @Primark pic.twitter.com/Aoolr6RnOn
— Yegor (@Yegor29) August 28, 2018
The roof and floors caved in as they fought the flames through the night, though the NI Fire and Rescue service said the exterior is now structurally intact.
A police cordon is still in place around the site while authorities determine which local roads can be reopened.
Primark fire pic.twitter.com/OmA4rfIILn
— Hugh Russell (@russellhugh1) August 28, 2018
Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey told the BBC:
"We need to look at the next steps in terms of preserving this historic building, supporting traders in the area and helping Primark staff to find another place of work in the interim."
According to the BBC, the building is currently undergoing a major refurbishment.
Main image via @Yegor29 and @russellhugh1
