Hundreds of people have been evacuated after a massive fire broke out in a shopping center in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.
A fire broke out at the Centaurus shopping center in the heart of the city on Sunday, sending huge plumes of black smoke from the building.
Crowds of terrified shoppers were seen climbing the escalator to escape the panic that was spreading on social media.
Islamabad Police said rescue teams were pulling those trapped in the mall through the back entrance before conducting a search inside the building.
A helicopter crew was also dispatched to help with a rescue operation and contain the spread of flames to other floors of the building.
Everyone inside was taken to safety and no injuries were reported.
“The fire inside the mall has been brought under control and no stores were damaged,” the force said in a statement on Twitter.
The area is now closed pending an investigation into the cause of the fire.
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The four-story mall houses more than 250 stores and is visited by 11 million visitors each year.
The Centaurus Building, designed by British architectural firm WS Atkins, houses a 36-story hotel and three 23-story residential and office towers, as well as a ground floor checkout and holdall and dining rooms upstairs.
