Milan fire: 20-storey apartment block totally engulfed in flames as emergency crews search for ‘people trapped inside’

 DOZENS of people have been evacuated from a high rise building in Milan after a huge blaze broke out this evening. 

Dramatic footage shows the 20-storey block of flats with smoke pouring out of it as emergency services arrived on scene in Italy.  

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The multi-story bock of flats was engulfed in flamesCredit: EPA

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Footage showed plumes of black smoke coming from the buildingCredit: AP

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Shocking footage shows the smoke billowing into the skyCredit: Fire Brigade

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The flames are now under control at the buildingCredit: AP

The frantic rescue effort has reportedly seen dozens of people freed from the burning building which was engulfed in flames. 

According to Milano Today the flames spread up the building within minutes because of the cladding used on the property.

Video captured from a few miles away shows plumes of black smoke coming from the building.

Local media are reporting that ambulances are on the scene in the southern part of the Italian city.

They are also reporting that 70 families have been evacuated from the sky rise building.

Parts of the building are understood to have been completely destroyed and tenants have been evacuated.

BURNING CLADDING

It is not clear if there is anyone trapped inside the building, known as Torre dei Moro.

The Central Emergency Department for Milan confirmed that the flames are now under control after the fire broke out at around 5.30pm.

The fire broke out on the top floors of the building and then spread to the lower levels.

More than 50 firefighters have made their way to the upper floors of the building, with 15 fire engines used to tackle the blaze.

The road was closed to traffic to allow the emergency services to work and has also been covered with debris, including the burning cladding of the tower.  

Beppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, told Milano Today: "For now we have no reports of victims or injured."About twenty people have left without problems now the firefighters enter house by house breaking down the doors to see if anyone has remained inside. 

“We are positive about the fact that there was time for everyone to go out but until the control is not done we cannot be sure.”

The building has several floors for residents, and is also understood to include two underground floors for garages, parking spaces and cellars.

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More than 50 firefighters tackled the blazeCredit: Fire Brigade

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Smoke billowed out of the top of the buildingCredit: Fire Brigade

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Smoke was seen from miles awayCredit: AP

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Firefighters are on the upper levels of the building