Fire at convention centre that is still under construction sends thick smoke across New Zealand’s largest city

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

A massive fire at a convention centre building sitein Auckland was still spewing thick smoke across New Zealand’s largest city on Wednesday, 24 hours after it started.

The fire had prompted an evacuation of SkyCity Entertainment Group’s entire complex, including hotels, casinos and restaurants when it erupted around lunchtime on Tuesday. “We’re hopeful the fire will be contained by tonight,” Graeme Stephens, SkyCity’s chief executive, told a news conference.

Auckland fire: thousands evacuated as huge blaze takes hold in SkyCity Read more

Several roads were closed in the city centre and commuters were warned to stay away.

Emergency services said there were no injuries from the fire, though a firefighter had been treated after feeling ill at the site on Tuesday. More then 25 fire trucks were on site as firefighters battled the blaze through the night.

Play Video 0:44 Auckland fire: thousands evacuated as huge blaze takes hold – video

Auckland’s mayor Phil Goff told the New Zealand Herald newspaper the centre would probably not be ready in time to host major world leaders and events for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in 2021.

“You have got to believe that has put in jeopardy the ability of the convention centre to host the Apec meeting,” he said. Goff said his council would work with the government on a different venue.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern was set to visit Auckland later on Wednesday.

The construction project, undertaken by Fletcher Building Ltd is valued at NZ$703m ($452m) and is the largest underway in New Zealand.

Fletcher Building and SkyCity said the extent of the damage and the next steps would not be known until the fire was extinguished and an investigation could start.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Firefighters battle flames coming from the roof of the SkyCity Convention Centre Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The convention centre was originally slated for completion this year but Fletcher had pushed the date back as the project was mired in delays.

Goff said they had been expecting the centre to be finished by around August 2020, and the fire damage meant it could now take more than an extra year to complete.