WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A large fire that broke out Tuesday on the roof of a convention centre that’s under construction in downtown Auckland sent plumes of thick black smoke over New Zealand’s largest city. The St. John ambulance service said it took one person to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition in the late afternoon, about three hours after the fire began. The fire prompted SkyCity to evacuate its iconic downtown tower, as well as its hotels, casino and corporate offices that are located near the construction site. The New Zealand International Convention Centre was scheduled to open next year and was expected to accommodate more than 3,000 people at conferences. Work began on the site in 2015 and has been behind schedule and over budget.

Source: thestar October 22, 2019 03:31 UTC