Smoke forces evacuation from Žižkov Tower in Prague

Around 100 people were evacuated from Prague’s Žižkov Television Tower on Saturday afternoon after smoke filled an elevator shaft. Firefighters declared a second level of alert, according to their spokesperson Miroslav Řezáč, but no injuries were reported. The incident was caused by a malfunctioning elevator motor that began to spark, leading to smoke in the shaft and triggering the building’s alarm system. The lift subsequently shut down. Most visitors had already evacuated the tower before firefighters arrived. Police were also present at the scene. The 216-metre-high tower includes an observation restaurant at the top, accessible only by elevator.