A massive fire has partially destroyed a historic building in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, near the city’s busiest train station.
The blaze erupted on Sunday just before 4 p.m., sending dozens of firefighters scrambling to Union Street.
The fire started on the ground floor of a four-story commercial building, crews said.
Dramatic images captured orange flames curling around a domed roof beneath the night sky, as a silhouetted crane directed a water jet over the raging blaze.
Specialist equipment was deployed to tackle the inferno, and no casualties have been reported so far.
“At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources, including three high-reach vehicles, were mobilised to the scene,” the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said at 2 a.m. local time, with the fire still burning more than 10 hours later.
Videos circulating on social media and verified by CNN showed thick smoke billowing from a shop doorway. A person briefly sprays a fire extinguisher into the smoke before being pulled away by onlookers. “Oh my God, it’s like an explosion,” a voice says in the clip while calling emergency services. Loud bangs and sirens sound in the background before a police van arrives on the scene.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern over the fire and thanked emergency crews for their ongoing response in a post on X late Sunday. “Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe,” Swinney added.
Glasgow Central, the city’s main train station, provides regular rail services across the United Kingdom, including direct links to Edinburgh and London.
The station has been closed for now, and major disruptions to train services have been reported, according to Britain’s National Rail.
Built in 1873, the station has been described by Network Rail as “a stunning, historic building” and is noted as the busiest in Scotland.
Glasgow Central originally opened with eight platforms, part of broader efforts to manage the city’s rapidly growing population, driven by industrialization and the success of shipbuilding along the River Clyde.
