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FIRE

Fire breaks out at Stockholm mall

A shopping mall in northern Stockholm was evacuated on Friday evening after thick, black smoke was seen coming from the roof.

The fire broke out at Kista Galleria, a large shopping centre in a suburb dominated by offices, but also with a large residential population. Around 30 firemen from four stations were called to the mall, which has 25 shops and 33 restaurants and cafés.

It was not clear how many people were at the centre, which was fully evacuated shortly after 6pm. Firefighters said the blaze started in a ventilation unit on the roof. One hour after the alarm was raised at 5.30pm, the fire was largely under control.

The Local’s Christine Demsteader was at Kista Gallerian as the fire broke out.

“I was in the Pressbyrån at about 5.30pm, and there was a really strange smell, which I thought was smoke. Shortly afterwards, the fire alarm went off, and they gave a recorded evacuation notice in Swedish and English.”

“Thick, black, heavy smoke seemed to be coming from a small building next to the mall,” she said.

“I didn’t perceive it to be anything massive.”

Kent Lundqvist, of Stockholm Fire Brigade, said that everyone had been evacuated, and there were no reports of anyone being injured. The cause of the fire was not known early on Friday evening.