Several upper floors of a hotel in Dublin have caught fire

The Dublin fire. Photo / Twitter, Dublin Fire Brigade

Several upper floors of a hotel and apartment building in Dublin have caught fire with at least eight fire crews battling to stop the blaze spreading to other floors.

The fire is at the Metro Hotel at Ballymun near Dublin Airport. Dublin Fire Brigade says there are no reports of injuries or missing people.

"It is important for us to give out correct and factual information," the Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted.

"As of yet we have no reports of any casualties or people unaccounted for."

Witness Anthony Flynn said he didn't believe anyone was still trapped inside the burning building.

"It looks like everybody is out of the hotel," he said, saying the hotel is sometimes used to house families in need.

Flynn, a co-founder of the Inner City Helping Homeless organisation, said pieces of debris could be seen flying from the blazing building in scenes similar to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London.

He said he understood no homeless families were currently housed in the building.

"We are looking at the top seven floors that appear to be alight. It seems to be spreading like mad. It's exactly what it looked like at Grenfell. It appears to have started on the top two floors but has spread downwards and upwards."

Erica Fleming, whose apartment overlooks the hotel, said she could see and hear windows exploding from the heat.

"One of the apartments is completely engulfed," she said.

"I can see the fire crews dragging the hoses through the building. They are still two floors below but they are making their way up slowly."

Breaking: Massive fire in the Ballymun Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. pic.twitter.com/QwLRjpGabV

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) March 21, 2018

The Metro Hotel in Ballymun is evacuated as Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a blaze. @3NewsIreland https://t.co/Q53hmPW8xT

— Zara King (@ZaraKing) March 21, 2018

#Ballymun UPDATE: It is important for us to give out correct and factual information. As of yet we have no reports of any casualties or people unaccounted for. pic.twitter.com/KMqLGGTGb5

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) March 21, 2018

#Ballymun UPDATE: 8 fire engines, 2 aerial appliances, emergency tender, foam tender, command units and senior officers at scene. Firefighters using breathing apparatus inside hotel to search & extinguish #BallymunFire #Dublin #fire pic.twitter.com/dh8xnFgMRj

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) March 21, 2018

- PA, AAP