The biggest fire in Madrid's history gutted a 32-storey skyscraper in the Spanish capital's financial district today, causing no injuries, but the tower stayed upright despite fears of collapse.
More than 200 firefighters worked all night to quell the spectacular blaze in the Windsor building, the city's eighth tallest tower, which authorities said was probably started by an electrical short-circuit. Seven firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.
"We have confronted the most extensive fire that this city has ever had," Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon said.
The flames had died down by this afternoon, but acrid black smoke continued to pour from the building. Officials said there was still a risk the skyscraper -- now reduced to a blackened concrete skeleton - could collapse.
Flames devoured the 106-metre-high building from the top down, raining debris on to the street below. Surrounding buildings were evacuated and roads blocked. Officials said a short circuit was the probable cause of the blaze which began on the 21st floor late last night.
The building, which houses the offices of US accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, was completed in 1979.
Streets, shops and offices in the area and some sections of the Metro network will remain closed until officials are sure the building is safe.
It was the second drama to strike Madrid in less than a week, after armed Basque separatists ETA detonated a bomb near a major conference centre on Wednesday, wounding 43 people. Madrid is vying with four other cities to host the 2012 Olympic Games.