A major fire severely damaged a landmark skyscraper in central Zagreb late Monday, 17 November, engulfing much of the structure yet resulting in no reported casualties. The building, known as the Vjesnik Tower—named after the newspaper once headquartered there until its closure roughly 12 years ago—caught fire near its upper floors before flames rapidly spread downward, according to Croatian media.
Approximately 100 firefighters responded to the blaze, but the intensity and direction of the fire made entry into the 17-story building difficult. At the time of the incident, the building was nearly vacant, which authorities say contributed to the absence of injuries.
By midday Tuesday, 18 November, the fire had largely been extinguished, though parts of the metal and concrete frame continued to smolder, signaling extensive structural damage.
“From what I saw on site and inside the building, the damage is unfortunately total,” Zagreb mayor Tomislav Tomašević said, adding that he expects the state and other stakeholders to move swiftly toward reconstruction given the tower’s prominent position in the city.
Read more at AP News.