Large fire in Belgrade: Chinese shopping centre on fire, 50 firefighters and helicopter of the Serbian Ministry of Interior on the scene

(Patria) - Strong police forces have surrounded the Chinese shopping centre in New Belgrade and are preventing citizens from approaching the building that is in flames. Members of the Serbian Ministry of Interior are extinguishing the flames from a helicopter as well.

The fire is not subsiding, windows of the shopping centre are shattering, which is why the police insist that citizens do not approach the building.

A woman, who has been working at the Chinese shopping centre for 24 years, says she is in shock and that this is a great stress for her.

"There was a fire two years ago, but before that, in the 24 years I have been working, nothing like this has happened. I have only words of praise for my employers, I am registered, taxes are paid, they even took me to China at their own expense. Luckily, they bought two shops in the new Chinese shopping centre," said the saleswoman.

Early this morning, a fire broke out in the central part of the Chinese shopping centre and has not subsided since.

More than 50 firefighters are on the scene trying to contain the blaze, Nova.rs reports.