On Sunday, firefighters in Milan battled a high-rise fire that raced quickly through a 20-story residential structure and sprayed black smoke into the air.

There had been no reports of injuries or deaths, according to Mayor Giuseppe Sala, but firefighters were busting down doors apartment after apartment to ensure there were no victims.

“We are sure that there was time to get out, but until the controls are finished, we cannot be entirely sure,” Sala said to the reporters at the scene.

He added that nearly 20 persons were evacuated without incident.

The 60-meter-tall building, part of a recent development project, was constructed to resemble a ship's keel and included an aluminum sail on its roof, which burned and fell to the street in pieces.

A massive cloud of black smoke emerged from the reinforced concrete structure known as the Torre dei Moro, which was seen over kilometers.

Flames raged inside for roughly 3 hours as a dozen fire trucks and ambulances responded to the emergency.