Hotel guests in Cardiff were evacuated after a fire during the early hours of the morning.
The blaze at the Park Plaza Hotel on Greyfriars Road in the capital filled the sky with smoke as guests, many in pyjamas, were woken up and moved to the nearby Hilton hotel where a police cordon was put in place.
Fire and rescue teams remained on the scene while onlookers ending their night out took photos of the street.
Park Plaza guest Celie said: “We all got evacuated, there was loads of smoke coming from the top of the building. Two boys I saw when I was walking down said there was a fire at the back of the building and we were just told to come across to the Hilton to wait until we are told that we can go back.
“We were in our room for maybe 20 minutes – we’d been out, come back for 20 minutes, got changed then [the alarm went off].
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“No-one knew what was going on and then it stopped so we went back into the room and then it happened again. That’s when the marshals started coming around and banging on the doors and that’s when we had to evacuate.
“We’ve just been told to stay [in the Hilton]. They’ve got a free bar.
“We live 15 minutes away – we booked this back in April when we were in full lockdown. From where we were in the club we live 15 minutes one way or the Park Plaza that way and we chose to go back to the Park Plaza. My keys are in my bag, I could have just gone back and now I can’t.
“But luckily no-one has been hurt, I did ask that question, and no-one has been hurt – everyone was evacuated before anything could have got serious so that’s the main thing.”
Police cordon off the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff while firefighters remain at the scene
(Image: Anna Lewis/Wales Online)
Guest Matthew Wrigley said: “We were sleeping in our room at about half one. The fire alarm went off so we were all thinking ‘what’s this about?’
“The alarm went off for about a minute and then it went off so went went back into our rooms thinking it was just a drill or someone had smashed it and ran off.
“We all went back to bed and about two mintues later it went off again so at that point everyone was asked to leave their rooms and go down the corridoor so we did the same
“There was already about six fire trucks there with all the lights flashing. They were all getting their kit on and stuff.
“We all got told to head to the end of the road and then we looked up and saw black smoke coming from the top of the building on the right hand side. The cranes had some lights on and you could see the smoke passing above the cranes.”
Fiefighters at the scene of the blaze at the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff
(Image: EyeBallPaul/Twitter)
Matthew, from Manchester, added: “Half an hour later we got moved to the Hilton hotel. We’ve not packed anything, car keys, belongings. Luckily I brought my coat, unfortunately my partner didn’t bring a coat.
“We’ve got free water, we’ve been given gowns and we’ve got free hot drinks so it’s not too bad but I would like to go back to bed.”
Police thanked members of the public for their patience.
At 2.33am the official Facebook account of South Wales Police Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan posted: “Emergency services are at the scene of a fire on Greyfriars Road, Cardiff.
“Please avoid the area to allow emergency services to deal with the incident. Officers are at the scene so please follow their directions.
“Local residents are being moved to safety. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.”
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