VIDEO: Fire briefly erupts in central Beirut commercial district

Firefighters in Lebanon's capital said Tuesday they put out a fire at a building under construction, in what was the third blaze to hit the city since a massive explosion at the port.

The building, located about 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) away from the city's port in central Beirut, was designed by the renowned late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.

Footage shared on social media showed black clouds of smoke billowing off of bright red flames that climbed up the side of the curvaceous building with latticed covering.

AFP reporters at the scene saw firefighters use a crane to aim water hoses at its smouldering facade.

"What was on fire was the insulation that separates the outside from the inside" of the building, a civil defence officer told AFP.

"We were able in the fastest time possible to control" the blaze, he said.

READ MORE

Fireworks, ammonium nitrate likely fueled Beirut explosion

Imran Pakistani celebrities express sorrow and mourn the devastating Beirut blasts

For many Lebanese now Dubai is the new Beirut

A Reuters witness said part of one side of the building was smouldering as firefighters hosed it down.

Last week, a big fire broke out at Beirut port, the scene of the catastrophic Aug. 4 port explosion.

Reuters