AN OUT-of-control blaze ripped through a building in Sydney after it caught alight - and caused the block to come crashing down.
The multi-storey building was burning down next to the city's busiest train station and quickly spread to a nearby apartment building.
The blaze erupted this morning on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, on the southern edge of Sydney's "central business district", known as the CBD.
Nearly every room was alight in the seven-storey building which is surrounded by several other high rises.
As the blaze raged on, parts of the building could be seen collapsing.
There are now major road closures in the area around Randall Street.
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More than 20 trucks were sent to central Sydney to tackle the huge blaze, said Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry.
And a spokesperson said there are were around 120 firefighters from multiple stations across the city at the scene of the fire.
"The building is starting to collapse, while the inferno is beginning to spread to several neighbouring buildings, including residential apartments," Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement.
The entire top floor wall leaned over and crashed in pieces into the street below, a fire service video showed, as the building glowed orange with flames.
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In horror footage one car could be seen burning on the street below.
The two buildings that were on fire were next to a modern apartment building which was quickly evacuated as fiery embers fell onto the surrounding balconies.
Residents of the closest apartment buildings in the area have been barred from entering their homes, as police try to control the crowds which gathered nearby.
In the footage, firefighters could be seen dousing flames on the adjoining building and battling the blaze as emergency services cordoned off the area.
They sprayed the blaze with water, aiming the hoses at the windows lit by flames.
Images posted on social media showed the huge flames shooting towards the sky as they climbed up the entire length of the building.
The blaze was described as one of the biggest out-of-control fires in living memory.
Fire crews have remained on the scene and are attempting to get the blaze under control.
"The public is urged to avoid the area as firefighting operations continue," the fire service said, as the piercing sound of emergency vehicle sirens rang through the city streets.
Australian politician, Tanya Plibersek, said in a statement on Twitter: "Terrible fire in Surry Hills in my electorate. Please stay safe and listen to instructions from emergency services".
Light rail services near the fire have also been suspended until further notice, an update from New South Wales Transport said.
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The blaze is believed to have started on the third floor before rapidly spreading and engulfing the entire building.
It was also classified as a 10th alarm - the most severe kind of fire.