Firefighters are battling a major blaze at the Hoyts cinema complex in Auckland’s Botany Downs after a fire reportedly began in an air-conditioning unit on the roof of the three-storey building connected to Botany Town Centre.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews are attacking the flames from inside and outside, with witnesses reporting fire shooting from the cinema as about 100 people gathered outside the mall before being directed further away. The incident has been upgraded to a third alarm, bringing additional fire appliances from across Auckland, while police have reportedly blocked part of Chapel Road and motorists have been warned to expect closures and diversions in the surrounding area.
