World Trade Center on fire, about 300 people captured VIDEO / PHOTO

World Trade Center on fire, about 300 people captured VIDEO / PHOTO

The fire was reported shortly after noon local time and in just half an hour was characterized as a third-degree incident, the South China Morning Post reports.

Also, the media state that at least seven people inhaled smoke in the building, which has as many as 38 floors. So far, 160 people have been evacuated. Police said that a 60-year-old woman was hospitalized in a semi-conscious state because she inhaled smoke, and that two other people were not feeling well.

Among those who are currently unable to leave the building, which operates as a shopping and business center, are customers and guests of the restaurant. The South China Morning Post reports that four people were hospitalized.

Firefighters use special extended ladders to reach the trapped people. According to the media, the fire broke out in the room with the safety fuses.

The manager of the restaurant on the 12th floor described how she managed to escape after the fire started. As she pointed out, at the time of the fire, they were serving 80 meals.

"Around 12.45 pm (local time) we noticed smoke coming down the stairs. We called the managers, but we didn't get an answer. We soon gathered customers, took towels and evacuated. We had to bend down because the smoke was accumulating on the stairs", she explained.