Blaze in Amsterdam brought under control, no casualties reported

Firefighters decided to let the affected building burn down in a controlled manner, effectively abandoning efforts to save the structure in order to contain the fire and prevent further risks.

AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A large fire that broke out Friday at the Westpoort industrial estate in western Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has been brought under control, with no casualties reported, the local fire department said.

The blaze started shortly after 3:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) at a storage facility for electric scooters, sending heavy smoke across parts of the Dutch capital, according to a fire brigade spokesperson cited by public broadcaster NOS.

By 5:00 p.m. (1600 GMT), smoke was still rising from the site but had begun to subside. Authorities closed all surrounding roads as a precaution, noting the proximity of a nearby gas station.

Firefighters decided to let the affected building burn down in a controlled manner, effectively abandoning efforts to save the structure in order to contain the fire and prevent further risks.

"We are doing our best to bring the fire under control," the spokesperson said, adding that the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

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