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1st LD Writethru: Multiple explosions set uncompleted plaza ablaze in Astana

Xinhua, February 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Flames engulfed a tall building under construction in the Kazakh capital here on early Saturday morning after at least three explosions, with no casualties reported so far.

Preliminary investigation showed that some gas cylinders on the 25th floor of the uncompleted Abu Dhabi Plaza exploded and caused fire, said Ruslan Imankulov, an official with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

He said firefighters rushed to the site near city center upon being alerted. A Xinhua correspondent saw several fire engines and ambulances near the building, which is still smoldering with some visible fire on the edges.

Glan Mackenzie, who was staying in a hotel 200 meters away from the building, said he heard a loud explosion around 5 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Friday).

When he came out he saw the top of Abu Dhabi Plaza engulfed by a "huge fire ball," he said, adding that there were two more explosions in the following half hour or more, and flames weakened after about one hour.

The top part of the building was badly damaged, but its lower part remained largely intact.

According to local media, Abu Dhabi Plaza is designed to reach 320 meters, which will make it the tallest building in Central Asia upon completion.

Financed by the United Arab Emirates' ALDAR group, it is to boast more than 300,000 square meters of internal space, including office space, a hotel and residential areas. Endi