Trump Tower in Azerbaijan capital Baku ablaze

Firefighters are reportedly battling a blaze at the unfinished Trump International Hotel and Tower in Azerbaijani capital Baku, reports the Independent.

The Azadliq newspaper reported that the fire broke out on the middle floors of the 33-storey building and was spreading, with six units of firefighters at the scene.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, following an apartment fire at Trump Tower in New York that left a prominent art dealer dead and four firefighters injured earlier this month.

The blaze came a day before Lewis Hamilton and other F1 drivers race the Baku city circuit in the Grand Prix.

Development was started on the Trump International Hotel and Tower Baku a decade ago but it has never opened.

Originally planned as a luxury apartment building by local developers, the project was taken over by the future US President’s company in 2012.

 The Trump Organisation announced that a hotel will occupy the first 13 floors, with flats on the storeys above.

Following Mr Trump’s election, there was controversy over affiliation between the company that owned the project, Baku XXI Century, and a local family associated with corruption.

Copyright: The Independent