A tweet by broadcaster Tgr Rai Lombardi said the fire had taken hold at the Torre dei Moro building in Antonini, in the southern outskirts of the Lombard capital.
Another tweet by the Milan fire brigade shared a clip shot from its helicopter, adding: “Skyscraper fire: flames under control. Our teams are advancing from the inside to the upper floors of the building.There are 15 vehicles used, over 50 firefighters. Images of the aerial reconnaissance from the helicopter.”
#Milano #incendio grattacielo: fiamme sotto controllo, le nostre squadre stanno avanzando dall’interno verso i piani superiori dell’edificio. Sono 15 i mezzi impiegati, oltre 50 i #vigilidelfuoco. Immagini della ricognizione aerea dall’elicottero. [#29agosto 20:00] pic.twitter.com/dKtm1eznUi
— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) August 29, 2021
The fire was first reported at 4.30 pm local time.
Flames continued to burn inside nearly three hours after a dozen fire trucks and ambulances responded to the alarm.
An earlier tweet said the fire had apparently begun in the upper storeys before travelling downwards.
The building houses about 70 families, who were being contacted in an effort to make sure no one was missing.
Italian singer Mahmood also lives in the building, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
“The firemen are going from apartment to apartment, knocking down doors to make sure no one remains inside,” Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
“But we are optimistic because people had time to get out.”
The newspaper said about 20 residents suffered slight smoke inhalation.
Dozens of ambulances and fire engines were at the scene.
The 60-metre-high building, part of a recent development project, was designed to look like the keel of a ship and included an aluminum sail on its roof, which burned and fell to the street in pieces.
